Mutual Aid From Northern Virginia Assists Plane Crash Response In Frigid Potomac

ARLINGTON, VA — First responders from around Northern Virginia have worked throughout the night in response to a plane crash with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport Wednesday night.

American Eagle Flight 5342 had 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft when it collided with a UH-60 Blackhawk about 8:48 p.m. Wednesday night. The helicopter had three people on board. The immediate concern was searching for survivors, which led to teams searching for survivors overnight on helicopters and rescue boats as well as divers.

At a Thursday morning news briefing, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said the first responders were moving from rescue operations to recovery.

"We are switching from a rescue to a recovery operation," said Donnelly. "At this point we do not believe there are any survivors, and we have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter."

Fairfax County has provided extensive public safety resources to the response, according to Faierfax County's director of public affairs Tony Castrilli. Fairfax County Police provided mutual aid through its Fairfax One helicopter, marine patrol unit and dive team. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department sent 22 units with 68 personnel. In addition, the county's Department of Emergency Management and Security supported the regional Incident Management Team to help coordinate the response.

"Fairfax County leadership remains in close contact with regional partners and will continue to provide any assistance necessary as recovery efforts continue," Castrilli said. "As we continue these efforts, we extend our deepest sympathies to the victims, their families and those impacted."

Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins had confirmed Wednesday night that first responders from the city were helping with the response. In a new statement Thursday, Gaskins expressed condolences to families and loved ones of the victims and commended Alexandria police and fire teams and other regional first responders for working at the crash site.

"This tragedy highlights the vital importance of collaboration between all levels of government and emergency services," said Gaskins in the statement. "We will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure a strong, coordinated response. The City is committed to offering ongoing support and resources to those impacted, both in the immediate aftermath and in the long term."

Alexandria-based IAFF Local 2141 said its members with the Alexandria Fire Department assisted Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority firefighters and other agencies to respond to the crash. According to the union, Alexandria Fire Stations 201, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, and 209, including Fire Boat 201, have helped with land and water recovery.

"The recovery efforts are still ongoing," IAFF Local 2141 said in a statement. "This has been, and will continue to be, an incredibly difficult and complex operation, and we ask for the public’s support as this operation continues. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones affected by this tragic event."

Matt Smolsky, an assistant fire chief with the fire marshal, said Prince William County Fire and Rescue sent a mobile command post Wednesday night. One boat with a crew of four personnel was sent Thursday morning to assist with the response. Another two staff members are helping with the regional incident management team.

Loudoun County government said that the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System provided relief staffing to regional partners. In addition, Loudoun County’s public safety agencies and emergency management personnel are working with state and regional agencies to offer mutual aid in the ongoing response.

"I offer heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families and loved ones of flight 5342," said Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis J. Randall. "We thank the first responders from Loudoun and across the Washington metro area for the heroic acts during this tragic incident."

The Arlington County Police Department said it helped with traffic control near Reagan National Airport Wednesday night and continues to help the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department Thursday with a police presence at the airport.

Reagan National Airport was set to reopen for flights at 11 a.m. Thursday, but the airport cautioned that some flights may be delayed or cancelled. After the crash, flights to Reagan National Airport had been re-routed to Dulles International Airport, leading the D.C. Metro to extend service to help arriving travelers.

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Donnelly said first responders would continue to work to find all of the victims' bodies. The D.C. medical examiner is tasked with reuniting bodies with the families, and the Virginia medical examiner and Army medical examiner are assisting with identifying the people.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on CNN that every effort is being put forth to make sure that every loved one is accounted for.

"I can’t begin to express the heartfelt sympathy from the Commonwealth," Youngkin said. "The work today is to make sure everyone is recovered and the families are given the tremendous support they will need."

According to Donnelly, an alarm from the control tower about a plane crash prompted an immediate response Wednesday night to the crash from the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority's fire department, D.C. and Metropolitan Harbor Patrol fireboats and other regional fireboats. Around 300 first responders were sent to the scene.

"These responders found extremely frigid conditions they found heavy wind and they found ice on the water and they operated all night in those conditions," said Donnelly.

AccuWeather meteorologists indicated Potomac River water temperatures were 33 to 36 degrees at the site of the plane crash on Wednesday night.

At the news conference Thursday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser thanked the first responders "who ran toward danger" into the frigid Potomac River.

"I speak for all of us when I say and certainly all Washingtonians how very sad we are for American Airlines for the United States Department of Defense and for all Americans for the loss of life that happened with the collision of these aircrafts," said Bowser.

Metropolitan Police in D.C. said many of its personnel have been on duty since the initial response more than 14 hours ago.

"We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of support from agencies across the region and the United States as we work through this tragic incident," the police department said.

Metropolitan Police have closed several D.C. roads to help with the recovery response — Potomac Avenue between South Capitol Street and 2nd Street SW, 2nd Street from Q Street to V Street SW, First Street from Q Street to V Street SW, Half Street from Q Street to V Street SW, and V Street from 2nd Street to Half Street SW.

IAFF Local 2141 said it was working with other IAFF unions in the region to create a peer support system. That will assist first responders in need of emotional support, counseling and practical help. The unions are also working to create a logistics location to help members receive food, water and other key supplies.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Reagan National Airport and D.C. Fire and EMS are the leading agencies in the response. According to Donnelly, other regional agencies contributing to the response were the Alexandria Fire Department, Arlington County Fire Department, Fairfax County Fire Department and Prince William County Fire Department in Virginia; Montgomery County Fire Department, Prince George's County Fire Department, Charles County Fire Department, Baltimore Police Fire Department, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Baltimore City Police, Maryland State Police and Maryland Natural Resources Police in Maryland, Metropolitan Police Department in D.C.; and Department of Defense, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Fire Department, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard. U.S. Park Police, FBI and National Transportation Safety Board on the federal level.

More on the crash can be found here.