Reporter recalls landing at Reagan airport minutes before plane crash

Flashing red lights and emergency services are not uncommon on the tarmac at any busy international airport, and as a reporter for DailyMail.com who has traveled thousands of miles, I should know.

But spotting at least 20 vehicles flying past the window of my terminal all at once before another ten careered around the corner was a terrifying signal that something has gone horrifically wrong.

After a bumpy landing at Ronald Reagan Washington Airport (DCA) from Kansas City where I was on an assignment – with our American Airlines captain warning of high winds – our walk through the terminal to wait for a connecting flight began normally.

Initially the first few police and fire vehicles didn't pose any real cause for concern – it's DC, a busy area and maybe there had been a medical episode on a plane.

But once the other emergency vehicles kept pouring in, all heading straight for the river, my blood ran cold.

Sirens continued to blare as more rescue crews headed straight for the icy water, with confusion spreading through the terminal.

Armed police appeared as though they had been there all along, whispering to staff members in what appeared to be a bid to keep the calm.

An alert on my phone immediately sent my anxiety through the roof, confirming only that all flights out of the airport had been grounded.

All hope that there was only a minor incident was immediately quashed after rumors swirled online that a small aircraft had crashed into a helicopter, and both were down in the Potomac River.

My colleague and I both froze, our fear levels suddenly spiking through the roof.

We had just been in the same airspace, travelling from the same area on the same airline less than an hour before the collision and had planned on celebrating his birthday with a drink. How on earth could this have happened?

The initial reports made it sound as though a small aircraft had been in an incident with a police helicopter.

But when it was confirmed that commercial American Airlines flight 5342 had been downed the tension in the terminal was immediately palpable.

Questions over the type of helicopter caused immediate confusion, with everyone falling silent after the Army confirmed the involvement of a Black Hawk helicopter on a training mission.

My heart sank as we watched the glowing string of red lights grow longer and wider, as police helicopters frantically flew over the water.

The news slowly spread through the airport, with many wrapped up in their own world with headphones on looking baffled as they were gently told they should book a hotel for the night by staff.

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Boards showing the hundreds of flights set to arrive and take off from the airport were suddenly glowing red.

Those in the terminal further away from the incident went from angry to horrified, with a lack of information from the airport itself meant many found out what had happened from online.

Footage of the incident was immediately being discussed among passengers, with many shocked that they had heard nothing at all.

While we didn't witness the plane turn into a ball of fire in the sky before careering into the icy water with our own eyes, watching the video over and over as passengers tried to piece together what had happened was numbing.

The realization of, 'that could have been us', quickly quelled any initial irritation at being given no information by staff on what was going on. Relief filled me, we were safe and that was the most important thing.

But that feeling of relief brings genuine guilt for not immediately thinking of those who were on board the flight, so close to the safety of the runway.

Many would have been texting loved ones that they were about to be reunited, and that they had landed safely, looking out the window in awe of the Capitol, Washington Monument, and Lincoln Memorial.

The final descent into DCA is unlike many others, the glow of the city melting into the lights of the runway and the river.

It usually marks excitement of being able to witness some of America's most iconic landmarks from above.

But the unique airport is now being overshadowed by tragedy, and an intense investigation which will be forced to ask and answer difficult questions.

On Thursday morning, officials sadly announced that they do not expect to find any survivors and they are now in the process of a recovery operation. 

Washington DC fire and emergency medical services chief John Donnelly said the bodies of 27 plane passengers and one from the helicopter had been pulled from the water so far. 

Fatal plane crashes are so rare, you are 100 times more likely to die in a car, three times more likely on the subway, and about the same chance as being struck by lightning.

Before Wednesday's disaster, American airlines had not suffered a fatal crash in almost 16 years despite 100 million planes taking off with 10 billion passengers.