An American Airlines plane with 60 passengers and four crew members onboard collided with a military helicopter near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, plunging into the Potomac River. Washington’s Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said Thursday morning that 28 bodies were recovered from the scene: 27 passengers from the jet and one from the helicopter. “At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident,” Donnelly said, adding that first responders were “switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.” The commercial flight from Wichita, Kan., was making its approach to Reagan National Airport when the collision occurred shortly before 9 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Black Hawk helicopter — operating out of Fort Belvoir, Va., with a crew of three — was on a training mission, according to the Defense Department. Ronald Reagan National Airport will reopen at 11 a.m. ET, officials said.
Potomac River temperature was in the 30s last night
The water in the Potomac River was about 33-36°F on Wednesday evening when the American Airlines plane collided with a helicopter, according to meteorologists. Wind gusts were up to 30 mph in the area. For context, the National Weather Service says 55° “water may not sound very cold, but it can be deadly.” After the crash, hundreds of responders were sent into the river for a rescue operation — but they were dressed and prepared for the water temperatures. NWS states that the shock from cold water quickly removes heat from the body within the first minute and can cause dramatic breathing, heart rate and blood pressure changes. After roughly 10 minutes, someone could lose muscle control; within 20 to 30 minutes, hypothermia can start to kick in.
