Synopsis
Moscow confirmed that three Russian nationals were among the 67 victims of a deadly plane crash in the United States. The crash involved a US passenger jet and a military helicopter, with no survivors reported.Key Takeaways
- Three Russians confirmed among 67 victims
- Tragic plane crash occurred on Wednesday night
- Involvement of US Army Black Hawk helicopter
- Russian Embassy in contact with US authorities
- No survivors from the crash
Moscow, Jan 31 (NationPress) The Russian government confirmed on Friday that three Russian nationals were among the 67 casualties of a tragic plane crash that occurred in the United States on Wednesday evening.
A passenger jet from the US, which had 64 individuals on board, went down into the Potomac River following a mid-air collision with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, marking the most severe air disaster in the US since 2001.
The American Eagle Flight 5342 was transporting 60 passengers along with four crew members, while the US Army Black Hawk helicopter had three military personnel aboard.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to all Americans. As confirmed, our nationals were present on the flight, including world champions in pair figure skating, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, alongside Soviet figure skater Inna Volyanskaya, who was coaching in the US. The American athletes traveling with them also lost their lives,” stated Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova during a media briefing in Saransk, Mordovia.
“According to the American authorities, there were no survivors from this plane crash. Our Embassy has information confirming that three of the victims held Russian passports. Regarding the fourth individual, we believe there might be a Russian passport, and this information is currently being verified,” Zakharova elaborated.
The spokesperson noted that the Russian Embassy in the United States is actively communicating with the US State Department regarding all matters related to this tragic event.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy mentioned on Thursday that the flight paths of both aircraft were typical for the region, and both the helicopter and the airplane were adhering to standard flight protocols.
Among the three major airports in the vicinity, Reagan National is the closest to the capital. Due to the short length of its runways, over 90 percent of flights utilize its main runway, making it the busiest airport in the US, with more than 800 daily departures and arrivals.
