Kansas rep: Crash near Reagan National ‘a tragedy that touches our community’

Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) said Thursday that the deadly plane crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night will “be a tragedy that touches our community.”

Estes represents Kansas's 4th Congressional District, which includes Wichita, where the flight to Washington departed.

“I know this is [going to] be a tragedy that touches our community,” Estes said during a press conference, adding later that “it's going to have consequences for years to come.”

More than 60 people were believed to be on board an American Airlines flight that collided midair with a military helicopter shortly prior to landing at the airport. Officials have said they do not expect any survivors.

“This is such a tragic day for our community,” Estes said. “So many of us will be touched by people that we know, directly or indirectly, that were victims of this tragic tragedy that happened.”

Other Kansas officials have weighed in on the crash, including both U.S. senators for the state and the governor.

“When one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said during a press conference Wednesday night alongside Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and other officials. “It’s a heartbreak beyond measure.”

“And, I know Sen. Moran and I are here just to … to say we care,” he added. “We wish that there was more we could do.”

President Trump has said the crash “should have been prevented."

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,” the president posted on Truth Social. “The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time.”

“It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane,” he continued. “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!!”

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