An American Airlines flight has collided in mid-air with a helicopter in Washington DC, the Federal Aviation Administration says.
It happened while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9pm local time, it adds in a statement. Authorities are investigating.
It says: “A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in mid-air with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT).
“PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas.
“The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation.
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) has grounded all flights while emergency services respond to the mid-air crash.
“All take-offs and landings have been halted at DCA,” the airport said on X.
“Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open.”
Separately, American Airlines has said it was aware of reports of an incident near the Reagan National Airport involving a flight operated by PSA from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington.
Sixty passengers and four crew members were on the American Airlines plane that crashed near Washington’s Reagan National Airport
Fireboats are at the scene searching the Potomac River near to Ronald Reagan National Airport where the mid-air collision occurred.
Three US Army soldiers were onboard the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with the passenger jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
US President Donald Trump says he has been “fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport”.
“May God Bless their souls,” he says in a statement.
“Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders.
“I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
While we still don’t know how many casualties there have been, we’re just receiving some information on the search and recovery mission.
According to reports by US media, the American Airlines plane that crashed is split in half in the Potomac River, with boats and divers searching for people.
The helicopter that was involved in the crash is near the plane, upside down in the water, US media report.
he FBI has released a statement from its Washington field office saying they are helping in the response to the mid-air collision.
Here’s the agency’s statement in full:
“The FBI Washington Field Office’s National Capital Response Squad is responding to an aviation incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in support of our law enforcement and public safety partners. Please direct questions regarding this incident to the National Transportation Safety Board.”
Police officials have told that 18 bodies have been recovered by search crews at the scene of the crash, and that no survivors have been found so far.
Emergency responders have recovered at least 30 bodies from the crash scene
Donnelly continues as he names and thanks the agencies involved in the search and rescue operation for their work.
However, he says that despite these groups’ efforts, they are now switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.
“We don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident,” he says.
He adds that his teams have recovered 27 bodies from the plane, and one from the helicopter.