Travel disruptions at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) continue in the wake of a devastating mid-air collision outside of Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. According to KTLA, Thursday morning saw at least four flights out of LAX delayed or canceled due to the incident, which involved an American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk Army helicopter.
The collision, resulting in the deaths of over 60 individuals, occurred just before 9 p.m. EST on Wednesday. As reported by NBC Los Angeles, the American Airlines flight had departed from Wichita, Kansas, carrying passengers who included figure skaters returning from the National Development Camp tied to the U.S. Figure Skating Championship.
Following the crash, Reagan National was closed until 11 a.m. EST Thursday, leading to diversions, delays, and cancellations of flights—including those at LAX. Tim Aguayo, a traveler affected by the delays, expressed his condolences in a statement obtained by KTLA. "My thoughts and heart go out to the families," Aguayo said. "I feel bad for them and it’s just tragic to hear."
Airline employees have been working diligently with passengers at LAX to accommodate changes to their travel plans. Aguayo, scheduled to fly from LAX to Reagan on Thursday morning, shared his apprehension about flying but acknowledged that being fearful was not an option. "He said he’s always 'apprehensive' about flying, but 'can’t waste [his] time being scared,'" Aguayo told KTLA.
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