A US passenger plane carrying 64 people crashed into Washington’s Potomac River on Wednesday after colliding mid-air with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, prompting a major emergency response.

Flight 5342, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operating for American Airlines and traveling from Wichita, Kan., collided with the military chopper while approaching Runway 33 at the Washington airport around 9 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

About 300 first responders and divers are part of an active search of the Potomac, which is a perilous 35 degrees for the 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines flight and the three soldiers traveling in the military chopper, with first responders recovering the remains of at least 18 people, according to CBS News.

No survivors have been found, the outlet added.

Officials did not confirm the recovery of any passengers on either aircraft at a press conference early Thursday morning.

“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft,” American Airlines told The Post in a statement.

“We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”

The Army UH-60 helicopter involved in the crash was based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, according to the Army and Pentagon, with the flight reportedly a training exercise, Fox News reported.

The Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the 2023 general elections, Omoyele Sowore, says he will not accept President Bola Tinubu even if he volunteered to be his bail surety.

Ekwutosblog reports that Sowore is currently in police custody after he was arraigned over allegations of cyberstalking, negligent acts, and intimidation.

The police invitation was about a viral video wherein Sowore confronted officers who had stopped his vehicle at a checkpoint in Lagos.

The court adjourned ruling on his bail application to Thursday, January 30.

speaking with journalists in a video, Sowore rejected the bail conditions and vowed not to participate in what he called illegality.

According to him, the conditions were laughable, frivolous, and ridiculous, adding that the police have no right to grant administrative bail.

“I cannot in good conscience continue to participate in illegality because I have made it very clear that the police have no right to grant administrative bail that asks for civil servants to own, first and foremost, N100 million houses, which is a crime; that’s a corruption to stand bail for me, who is an employer of labour.

“I’m a publisher of an internationally renowned news website. I have people who I hired in Nigeria and abroad. I’m not a civil servant. In fact, I’m an uncivil citizen who is against all kinds of corruption.

“I have spent my entire life fighting against corruption. So, to now ask me, to insult me that I should provide a level 17 director, who had not gotten employment when I was fighting for democracy in 1992.

“To now ask the person to come and stand surety for me is a biggest insult. Even if President Bola Tinubu had appeared as my surety, I would have rejected that very laughable, frivolous, ridiculous, and I dare say stupid bail condition,” Sowore said.

“NAC-in-session totally Rejected the 50% Telecom Tariff Hike which it considers as too harsh for citizens. It therefore strongly condemns the Nigeria Communications Commission’s decision to approve the increase in telecommunications tariffs. This decision is insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace, who are already burdened by worsening economic hardship foisted on them by Policies of government which was no fault of theirs.

“To express our collective opposition to this arbitrary tariff hike, the NLC will embark on a nationwide mass rally on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. The rally will serve as a warning on the dangers of imposing such an unfair increase on a struggling population earning a minimum wage of only ₦70,000; a population that has suffered outrageous hike in the price of petrol, high cost of food, hike in electricity tariff and general rising inflation.

“All NLC affiliates and state councils are directed to begin full mobilization in preparation for the February 4, 2025, nationwide protest rally. Willing civil society allies are also encouraged to join the preparation. The Congress calls on all Nigerian workers, the informal sector, and the general public to stand in solidarity against this unjust policy.

“NAC-in-session demands an immediate suspension of the 50% tariff hike. It calls on the Federal Government, the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) and the National Assembly to engage in meaningful dialogue with critical stakeholders to review the proposed tariff adjustment within the context of the economic realities facing Nigerians.

“Should these not be heeded, the Nigeria Labour Congress will escalate its actions, including the possibility of a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services and further mass actions which may involve nationwide withdrawal of our service to resist policies that exacerbate poverty and inequality.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress remains committed to protecting the interests of Nigerian workers and citizens against exploitative economic policies. We will not relent in our struggle against policies that undermine the welfare and dignity of our people. Nigerian workers and citizens must unite and take action to prevent further economic oppression. We must resist any policy that prioritizes corporate profits over the well-being of the people.”