Passenger jet collides with Army helicopter while landing at Washington's Reagan Airport
Arlington (US) (AP): A passenger jet collided on Wednesday night with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River.
There was no immediate word on casualties, but all takeoffs and landings from the airport near Washington were halted as helicopters from law enforcement agencies across the region flew over the scene in search of survivors. Inflatable rescue boats were launched into the Potomac River from a point near the airport along the George Washington Parkway, just north of the airport.
President Donald Trump was briefed, his press secretary said, and Vice President JD Vance encouraged followers on the social media platform X to “say a prayer for everyone involved.”
The Federal Aviation Administration said the midair collision occurred around 9 pm EST when a regional jet that had departed from Wichita, Kansas, crashed into a military Blackhawk helicopter while on approach to an airport runway.
In audio from the air traffic control tower around the time of the crash, a controller is heard asking the helicopter, “PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight,” in reference to the passenger aircraft.
“Tower did you see that?” another pilot is heard calling seconds after the apparent collision.
The tower immediately began diverting other aircraft from Reagan.
In a post on social media, American Airlines said it was aware of reports that one of its flights was involved in the incident and said it would provide more information once available.
Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to join in a fireball.
The airport said emergency personnel were responding to “an aircraft incident on the airfield.”
The incident recalled the crash of an Air Florida flight that plummeted into the Potomac on January 13, 1982, that killed 78 people. That crash was attributed to bad weather.
No other details were immediately available.
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Syeda Kashmira Simran clears Civil Judge Examinations in first attempt, secures 30th rank
Madikeri: In a major academic feat, Syeda Kashmira Simran, daughter of late Kashmir Simran Syed Nazir Ahmed and Syeda Nikhat Asma, founders of Mountain View School, Virajpet town, has been selected for the post of Civil Judge. She cleared and secured the 30th rank in the first attempt.
Syeda completed her primary and secondary education at Mountain View School, established by her parents in Virajpet, and pursued her pre-university education in Mangaluru.
She later obtained her BBA LL.B. degree from Vidya Vikas College in Mysuru.
In 2023, she began practicing as an advocate in Virajpet under the guidance of I.R. Pramod.
Speaking to Prajavani, Syeda said, “My father and mother gave high priority to education. They also strongly believed that girls should pursue higher education and lead a self-reliant life. I am now satisfied that I have fulfilled their dream.”
So far, four advocates who trained under the guidance of I.R. Pramod has been selected as Civil Judges.
More than 10,000 candidates appeared for the Civil Judge Examination, of whom 83 were selected. Among them, Syeda Kasmira Simran secured the 30th rank.
