CEO Speaks Out About Flight 5342 Incident
The chief executive of American Airlines expressed “deep sorrow” after one of its aircraft crashed following a collision with a military helicopter over the US capital late Wednesday.
“I’d like to express our deep sorrow about these events,” said CEO Robert Isom in a video statement, adding: “This is a difficult day for all of us.”
“We’re cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation and will continue to provide all the information we can,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said in a video statement.
American Eagle Flight 5342, travelling from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA), encountered an incident at DCA. The flight, operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700, had 60 passengers and four crew members aboard.
Dozens of police, ambulance, and rescue units, some equipped with boats, were positioned along the river and rushed to various spots along the airport tarmac. Live TV footage showed several boats in the water, with flashing blue and red lights. The airport announced late Wednesday that all takeoffs and landings had been halted as emergency personnel responded to the aircraft incident.
US President Donald Trump said in a statement that he had been “fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport.”
“May God bless their souls,” he added. “Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
If you think you might have family members on Flight 5342, don’t hesitate to contact American Airlines at 800-679-8215. For those calling from outside the U.S., more phone numbers can be found at news.aa.com. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly. American Airlines will provide updates as more information becomes available. For current information, please check news.aa.com and American’s official X account, @AmericanAir.
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