Synopsis
On January 30, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul expressed his deep sorrow over the collision of a US jet and an Army helicopter near Washington's Reagan National Airport, which resulted in significant casualties and ongoing search efforts.Key Takeaways
- Cho Tae-yul shared condolences for the victims.
- The incident occurred at Ronald Reagan National Airport.
- At least 18 casualties reported from the mid-air collision.
- Former President Donald Trump criticized the handling of the situation.
- Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the Potomac River.
Seoul, Jan 30 (NationPress) South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul conveyed his profound sorrow on Thursday following a collision between a US aircraft carrying 64 individuals and an Army helicopter during its landing approach at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington.
"We are heartbroken by the unfortunate incident at Reagan National Airport. Our thoughts are with all those directly affected as we hope for positive news," Cho shared in English on his X account.
A regional jet collided with a military helicopter as it was descending towards the runway around 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday, triggering a significant search-and-rescue effort in the adjacent Potomac River, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration. The precise number of casualties is yet to be confirmed.
The Seoul administration is currently attempting to acquire a passenger list, although it remains unclear if any South Korean citizens were on board, according to Yonhap news agency.
Earlier, former US President Donald Trump commented on the incident, suggesting that it "should have been prevented" and questioned why officials did not redirect the helicopter's path.
This mid-air collision over the Potomac River, close to Washington's Reagan National Airport, has resulted in at least 18 fatalities, with search teams still active in their efforts to find survivors. The crash involved American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk military helicopter.
On his platform 'Truth Social,' Trump remarked, "The airplane was on a perfect and routine approach to the airport. The helicopter was on a direct course toward the airplane for a long time."
"It was a clear night, and the aircraft's lights were shining brightly. Why didn’t the helicopter ascend, descend, or turn? Why didn’t the control tower provide instructions to the helicopter instead of inquiring if they saw the plane? This is a troubling situation that appears to have been avoidable. Not good," he wrote.
The military helicopter was transporting three soldiers when it collided with the regional passenger jet, which had 60 passengers and four crew members on board as it was preparing to land. So far, no survivors have been identified.
