What we know so far

A passenger plane carrying 64 passengers and crew crashed into the Potomak River in the Washington area after collaborating in the middle of the air with a US Army helicopter.

So far, at least 19 bodies have been drawn from the river, said a source of law enforcement. Figure skaters from the US and Russia are among those who were aboard the aircraft when the crash happened.

Search and rescue teams work at night to search the waters at freezing temperatures.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is temporarily closed as authorities are investigating the incident.

Around 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, the PSA Airlines aircraft, working as the American Airlines 5342, collided with a US Army helicopter as Ronald Reagan Washington (Federal Aviation Aviation ( FAA).

The passenger plane invaded numerous pieces and sank a few feet into the river as the helicopter found itself upside down, the reports said.

The aircraft, the Bombardier CRJ700, left with Wichita, Kansas and wore 60 passengers and four crews, said American Airlines.

The Pentagon said that the helicopter participated is a Sikor H-60, who flew from Fort Belvoire in Virginia.

Three US soldiers were on board, said Washington Mayor, said Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser. Another employee said he was on a training flight and belonged to B Company, the 12th aviation battalion from Fort Belvoire in Virginia.

A clip, published online and reviewed by CNN, aims to capture the conversation to control the air traffic in the moments before the crash. The controller is reported to be heard to alert the helicopter to the aircraft, but does not receive an answer. The audio was not checked by the BBC.

FAA said it would investigate the incident along with the National Transport Safety Council (NTSB).

A source of law enforcement, familiar with the investigation, told the CBS that at least 19 bodies had been restored from the river – although employees refused to confirm such reports, stating that they were focused on their rescue efforts.

The American figure skating said “several members of our skating community were unfortunately on the board”. It says that this group includes athletes, coaches and family members who returned home from a development camp in Kansas.

Russia said two of its citizens, ice skating coaches, and former world champions Yevgeni Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also on the plane.

About 300 rubber boat responders are located to search for survivors, said Washington Fire and Emergency Service, John Donelli. “The challenge is access, there is wind, pieces of ice (on the water). It’s dangerous and difficult to work with,” he said.

Ari Schulman told NBC Washington that he saw the plane crash while driving in the parking lot of George Washington, which is moving along the airport.

He said the aircraft approach seemed normal until he saw the airplane bank to the right, with “streams of sparks” flowing from below, illuminating his abdomen.

At that moment he said he knew he was “very, very wrong”. After seeing a plane on a plane there in the past, he said that the underside of the plane should not be visible in the dark.

The sparks, he said, looked like a “giant Roman candle” and passed from the nose of the plane to his tail.

Jimmy Mazeo said he saw the crash while having dinner with his girlfriend in a park near the airport.

He recalled that he saw what looked like a “white glare” in the sky. He said planes flying to Ronald Reagan Airport seemed to be flying in “wrong models”.

Mazeo said he didn’t think much about what was seen until the emergency services began to arrive at the scene.

President Donald Trump said he was fully informed of the “horrific incident” and that he was closely monitoring the situation.

“May God bless their souls,” he said in a statement. “Thank you for the incredible work done by our first answers.

In his social media account in the truth, he also raised questions about how the incident could happen, writes: “This is a bad situation that seems to have been prevented. It is not good !!!”

Vice President JD Vance has asked for prayers for those who were in the incident.

Defense Minister Pete Heget and Transport Secretary Sean Duffy, whose appointments have been confirmed recently, have also said they are watching the situation.

Asked if the flight paths near Ronald Reagan Airport would be changed after the incident, Duffy replied “We will take appropriate action if necessary.” He added: “There will be an overview of what happened here tonight.”

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed his “deep grief” for a collision in a video posted on the airline’s website.

This was voiced by Roger Marshall, a US senator, representing Kansas, from where the plane traveled. He described “Partitions Out of Measure.”