By MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – His Majesty King Mswati III has extended his condolences following a tragic aircraft collision in the United States of America (USA) this week, which resulted in the loss of approximately 60 lives.
The King conveyed his sympathies through Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini, who expressed the nation’s sorrow over the incident.
“The Kingdom of Eswatini received with deep sadness the news of the tragic collision between an American Airlines aircraft and an army helicopter near Reagan National Airport in the United States of America this week,” said Dlamini.
On behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III, Her Majesty the Indlovukazi, the Government, and the People of Eswatini, the Prime Minister extended heartfelt condolences to the United States, offering support and prayers to the bereaved families.
According to USA Today, the accident involved American Airlines flight 5342, which was arriving from Wichita, Kansas. The aircraft reportedly collided midair with the military helicopter at around 9 PM.
Emergency response teams, including rescue boats, were deployed late Wednesday to search for survivors, as per reports from NBC and CBS.
Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of casualties or injuries from the collision. Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, in a statement issued early Thursday morning, refrained from providing further details regarding recovery efforts. She assured the public that officials would share updates in a scheduled press briefing at 7:30 AM.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the incident, referring to it as a “terrible accident” and confirming that he was closely monitoring the response efforts.
