Quotes
We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,
said John Donnelly, the fire chief in the nation’s capital
I would just say that everyone who flies in American skies expects that we fly safely,
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy saidWe have early indicators of what happened here,
he said, declining to elaborate
From what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.”
Asked about President Donald Trump suggesting in a social media post that the collision could have been prevented, Duffy said
On final approach into Reagan National it collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach,
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom saidInitially I saw the plane and it looked fine, normal. It was right about to head over land,
he told CNN
We're going to be out there as long as it takes,
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser told reportersYou should be assured that when you fly, you’re safe,
he saidThe airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing,
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform
Three seconds later, and at that point it was banked all the way to the right... I could see the underside of it, it was lit up a very bright yellow,
Schulman told CNNThese responders found extremely frigid conditions, they found heavy wind, they found ice on the water, and they operated all night,
Donnelly saidI just saw a fireball and it was gone,
one air traffic controller was heard telling another after communication with the helicopter was cutThey did have night vision goggles,
he addedCan I guarantee the American flying public that the United States has the most safe and secure airspace in the world? And the answer to that is, absolutely yes, we do,
he said
We will continue to work to find all the bodies to reunite them with their loved ones,
he said
We don't believe there are any survivors from this accident,
Donnelly said
The district office of the medical examiner has lead on reuniting these bodies and these people, with their loved ones,
Donnelly continued
We have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter,
he addedWe are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts,
the organization said
Tower, did you see that?"
Another aircraft called in to air traffic control seconds later, saying