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Philadelphia airport receives diverted flights from DC's Reagan airport after deadly plane-helicopter crash

Allentown man says Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was "very somber" Thursday after crash
Allentown man says Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was "very somber" Thursday after crash 01:44

Officials at Philadelphia International Airport say their thoughts are with everyone impacted by a tragic crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday night. 

An American Airlines jet collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River around 9 p.m. Wednesday. Three people were aboard the helicopter, a Sikorsky Black Hawk; there were four crew members and 60 passengers aboard the jet, including several members of the international figure skating community.

U.S. Figure Skating said those passengers included athletes, coaches and family members returning from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championship in Wichita, Kansas.

As rescue efforts were underway in Washington, PHL received two flights that were diverted from Reagan National Airport Wednesday night. 

David Freeman, of Allentown, was on a flight from Reagan National Airport that landed at PHL at 1 p.m. He said he was in D.C. Wednesday night to catch a connecting flight, but he was forced to spend the night after the crash happened and the airport shut down.

"We couldn't get out of the airport. There was no cars coming in," Freeman said. "We actually grabbed an Uber that was in the airport and they were able to get us out. The shuttles couldn't come in. So, stayed overnight. Very somber this morning while we were there. Just very tragic and very sad."

Reagan Airport has since reopened since the crash and two more flights are scheduled to arrive at PHL on Thursday night.   

A spokesperson for PHL says anyone planning to fly to Reagan Airport on Thursday should check with their airlines for flight updates.

The closure of Reagan Airport was impacting other airports as well including Pittsburgh International Airport.

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