Coast Guard Responding to Mid-Air Collision Near Reagan National Airport - Update 2

Learn more about the Coast Guard's response from prior Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen and ABC's Kyra Phillips in the video below.

Update 2 - Saturday: Coast Guard, multiple partner agencies, responding to plane crash in Potomac River

Washington — The U.S. Coast Guard continues to support local, city, state and federal partners Saturday in response to the aircraft collision that occurred Wednesday evening over the Potomac River in Washington. 

The Coast Guard’s primary missions in the response are to ensure the safety of the public and first responders on the water, aid in victim recovery efforts, assist salvage operations and support the National Transportation Safety Board incident investigation. 

Coast Guard units currently deployed to support operations: 

• U.S. Coast Guard Station Washington response boat crews 
• U.S. Coast Guard Station St. Inigoes response boat crews 
• U.S. Coast Guard Station Annapolis response boat crews 
• U.S. Coast Guard Station Oxford response boat crews
• U.S. Coast Guard Station Crisfield response boat crews
• U.S. Coast Guard Station Philadelphia response boat crews
• U.S. Coast Guard Station Atlantic City response boat crews
• U.S. Coast Guard Station Milford Haven response boat crews
• U.S. Coast Guard Station Watchapreague response boat crews
• U.S. Coast Guard Station Barneget Light response boat crews
• The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kennebec, a 160-foot inland construction tender 
• The crew of the U.S Coast Guard Cutter Frank Drew, a 175-foot keeper-class coastal buoy tender 
• The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish, a 87-foot Marine Protector class cutter 
• The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Nathan Bruckenthal, a 154-foot Sentinel-class fast response cutter 
• Responders from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland - National Capital Region and assisting commands from across the country. 

A safety zone has been established, restricting vessel traffic in all navigable waters north of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Mariners are urged to avoid the area. 

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Maryland – National Capital Region’s primary missions are maritime safety, security and environmental protection for the National Capital Region and the upper Chesapeake Bay. The sector's personnel often work closely with partners in the area during a wide range of operations including the most recent National Special Security Events in the capital. 

For information on recovery operations, contact incident.pio@dc.gov 

UPDATE 1 - Friday: The Coast Guard sent the following operational update Thursday evening.

"WASHINGTON — The Coast Guard continues to coordinate with local, state and federal agencies Thursday in response to the aircraft collision that occurred Wednesday evening over the Potomac River in Washington. 

Response boat crews from Coast Guard Stations Washington, Curtis Bay, Annapolis, Oxford, Crisfield and Coast Guard Cutter Sailfish (WPB-87356) are on scene working with local partners to ensure the safety of the maritime public and responders and enforcing a safety zone.

Additional Coast Guard crews have mobilized to pre-stage pollution response equipment to mitigate potential environmental impacts from the incident.

A safety zone has been established, restricting vessel traffic in all navigable waters north of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Mariners are urged to avoid the area."

Original Report: The Coast Guard provided a summary Thursday morning on its response to the crash of an American Airlines plane and U.S. Army helicopter Wednesday evening near Reagan National Airport.

"WASHINGTON — The Coast Guard is coordinating with local, state and federal agencies in response to the aircraft collision which occurred Wednesday evening over the Potomac River in Washington.

Coast Guard Sector Maryland - National Capital Region command center watchstanders received a report at approximately 8:55 p.m. reporting a helicopter and a commercial passenger aircraft collided in the vicinity of Ronald Reagan Airport.

Response boat crews from Coast Guard stations Washington, Curtis Bay, Annapolis, St. Inigoes, Oxford and Crisfield have deployed to the incident to conduct searches in coordination with local partners and enforce a safety zone. Cutters Sailfish, Bruckenthal, Kennebec and Frank Drew are enroute to assist.

An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued regarding the incident and a safety zone has been established, securing all vessel traffic from the Woodrow Willson Bridge heading north along the Potomac River. Mariners are urged to avoid the area.

Coast Guard pollution crews have mobilized and are pre-staged to respond to any pollution caused by the incident.

The Coast Guard is working with the Army Corps of Engineers and Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving to coordinate removing the wreckage and restoring the waterways once able to do so."

The Coast Guard Foundation community is keeping the victims of this accident and their loved ones in our thoughts. We are grateful for the hundreds of Coast Guard members responding as well as members of the state and local agencies involved. The Coast Guard Foundation is working with Coast Guard Sector Maryland – National Capital Region to provide meals and morale support for the Coast Guard crews involved.

Title Image: Coast Guard boats respond Thursday to the aircraft crash near Reagan National Airport that occurred Wednesday evening. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)