At least 30 bodies recovered from water at Washington DC crash site

Emergency crews have recovered more than 30 bodies from the water after the crash near Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, two sources familiar with search efforts have told local station NBC4, Report informs via The Guardian.

An American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a US army Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers onboard while attempting to land at Reagan national airport at about 9pm local time on Wednesday evening.

Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River in freezing conditions, and 300 first responders have been deployed in a search and rescue endeavour.

At least 19 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River following the midair collision of an American Airlines plane and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., Report informs via BNO News.

American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, collided midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while approaching Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

First responders have recovered at least 19 bodies from the river. NBC4 initially reported that four victims had been rescued alive, but sources later told CNN that no survivors had been pulled from the water.

American Airlines has confirmed that the flight had 60 passengers and four crew members on board. The Black Hawk was carrying three soldiers, according to the US Army.

The FAA confirmed that the aircraft was operated by Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) on behalf of American Airlines, under the American Eagle joint brand. It had departed from Wichita, Kansas.

An American Airlines flight collided with a helicopter as it approached Washington DC's Ronald Reagan National Airport, officials say, Report informs via BBC.

It came down in the Potomac River, officials said, and search and rescue boats have been deployed to the area.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet - which seats up to 78 people - collided with the helicopter as it was approaching the runway at around 21:00 EST (02:00 GMT) on January 29.

The plane was American Airlines Flight 5342 coming from Wichita, Kansas, according to the agency.

Takeoffs and landings have been halted at the airport as emergency personnel respond to the incident, the airport wrote in a post on X.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it was conducting an investigation into the crash.

The Metropolitan Police Department said a search and rescue operation was under way in the Potomac River with help from multiple agencies.

Local police said the helicopter involved in the crash did not belong to the police department.