A devastating mid-air collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C., has resulted in 67 fatalities, with no survivors found despite a large-scale rescue effort. Among the victims were two promising Korean-American figure skaters, Jinna Han, 13, and Spencer Lane, 16.
The crash occurred near the Potomac River, where both aircraft went down. Authorities, including military, police, and fire departments, conducted a comprehensive search but were unable to find any survivors.
The passenger plane carried 64 people, while the U.S. Army helicopter had three onboard. This tragedy marks the deadliest aviation accident in the U.S. since the 2001 American Airlines crash, which claimed 260 lives.
An investigation is underway, focusing on why the helicopter and the passenger plane were at the same altitude. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that both the Department of Defense and the Army have launched an investigation.
Reports indicate that the plane also carried members of a figure skating team, including Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, both regarded as rising stars in the sport.
Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Boston Skating Club, described Gina as an extraordinary talent with poise beyond her years, while Elin Schran, Founder of Joy Skate Productions, highlighted Spencer's remarkable skill despite being relatively new to the sport.
In response to the tragedy, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed condolences but controversially blamed the Biden administration's diversity hiring policies for allegedly weakening air traffic control capabilities. His remarks were widely criticized for lacking evidence.
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