By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul sent a condolence message on Jan. 30, saying he prayed for good news and extended his heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the airliner crash near Washington, DC.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident at Ronald Reagan National Airport,” Cho said on social media X.

Two teenage Korean-American figure skaters were reportedly on board the passenger plane that crashed after colliding with a military helicopter near the U.S. capital, Washington, according to a CBS report.

The small passenger plane belonging to PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, was approaching to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., at 8:53 p.m. (local time) of Jan. 29 when it collided mid-air with a Sikorsky H-60 (Blackhawk) helicopter and crashed into the nearby Potomac River.

At least 18 bodies have been recovered as of 11:30 p.m. local time and no survivors have been found, CBS News reported, citing police officials on the scene. The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.