Witnesses have relived the horrifying moment they saw the sky light up with a “white flash” as two planes crashed into each other in Washington DC.
A Black Hawk military helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers at the US Capital’s Reagan Washington National Airport in the late night tragedy.
The Mirror reports that the two collided as the jet came in to land, with officials yet to disclose whether anyone survived the mid-air collision.
Locals who witnessed the crash have told how they initially noticed something was wrong when flights feeding into and out of the major airport had their paths diverted.
They then saw a white flash light up the atmosphere, but didn’t understand the devastating nature of the incident. Speaking to local media, Jimmy Mazeo said he was at a nearby park eating dinner with his partner when he saw “white flares” erupt in the sky.
The Washington resident said he thought it may have been caused by a celestial event. He told WUSA9 he “didn’t think much of it”, believing the lights were “shooting stars”.
The local didn’t understand the seriousness of what he had just witnessed until first responders arrived at the scene, with police cars and fire trucks rushing to the tarmac.
He continued: “We didn’t really think much of it until we saw the fire trucks started going out to the tarmac and the police cars and boats. It was insane.”
As the gravity of the situation started to set in, Mr Mazeo said he was initially “very on edge” and “very curious” and “wondered what the giant response was for”.
He added: “I’m really in awe. Of course its terrible what happened tonight, but I think that its crazy we got to see what happened. I’m praying for all the people involved in this.”
Local officials, including Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, are yet to reveal how many people died or survived the crash as rescuers brave difficult conditions in the pitch black night to comb through the nearby Potomac river.
The wreckage of both aircraft landed in the water. Ms Bowser said emergency responders from across the Washington metropolitan region are “working diligently” in “very dark and cold conditions”.
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