Boats work the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in Arlington, Virginia [Alex Brandon/AP Photo]
US President Donald Trump says the fatal midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter on Wednesday left no survivors.
Trump spoke on Thursday during a press conference at the White House.
The passenger plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the US Army helicopter had a crew of three.
Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, said the helicopter carrying three service members was participating in a “routine annual training of night flights on a standard corridor for a continuity of government mission”.
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The military and federal agencies routinely train for “continuity of government” missions. The exercises ensure the government can function if a disaster threatens or strikes Washington.
Helicopters are key to shuttling certain government leaders to locations of safety.
“The military does dangerous things. It does routine things on a regular basis. Tragically, last night, a mistake was made,” Hegseth said.
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The defense secretary said there was some sort of an “elevation issue” but noted that authorities have commenced investigations.
Trump blamed Democrats for mismanaging the aviation sector and prioritising diversity over safety standards, which he claimed led to the crash.
Authorities have only recovered 28 bodies so far after the aircraft crashed into the Potomac River.
The crash is believed to be the deadliest in the US since 2001.
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