Kazakh pesident extends condolences to US over helicopter-plane collision

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent a message of condolences to US President Donald Trump after a deadly helicopter-plane collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, his office reported Thursday.

Tokayev expressed deep sorrow upon hearing of the crash, from which there were no survivors, according to US authorities.

In his message, Tokayev offered condolences to Trump, the families of the victims, and all those affected by the tragedy on behalf of the people of Kazakhstan and himself.

The accident occurred when an American Airlines CRJ700 collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport, just outside Washington, DC.

Flight 5342, traveling from Wichita, Kansas, had 60 passengers and four crew members aboard, and the helicopter carried three soldiers. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River.