No survivors are expected as 28 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River in Washington after a passenger plane collided with a helicopter mid-air.
Both aircrafts crashed into the Potomac River, with the plane breaking into three pieces, and some 300 responders have been searching the river in freezing conditions.
64 people were on board the American Airlines flight from Wichita Kansas heading for Reagan Washington National Airport and the US Military has confirmed three soldiers were on board the Black Hawk chopper.
Rescue teams are working through the night in a search and rescue mission - focused on the river.
The cause of the incident is not yet known.
Officials have now upgraded the situation to a recovery operation and believe there are no survivors of the crash.
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Transport secretary Sean Duffy told a news conference that he believes the crash was "absolutely preventable".
He said the helicopter was on a training mission at the time, but this doesn't mean the pilot was inexperienced.
Mr Duffy added that there was "standard communication" between the plane and the military helicopter before the crash.
When asked if the US still has the safest airspace in the world, Mr Duffy said: "The answer to that is absolutely, yes we do.
"I will tell you with complete confidence that we have the safest airspace in the world."
Plane and helicopter crash in Washington. January 30, 2025 Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI Credit: UPI/Alamy Live NewsRetrieval efforts are continuing, and the Mayor of Washington has extended her condolences to the families of those affected.
US President Donald Trump has released a statement earlier today which said: “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport.
"May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation."
From left, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and other officials. Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)A recovery centre has been set up to receive human remains, with boats and ambulances arriving to transfer bodies to red tents that are acting as a temporary morgue.
The DC Medical Examiner said this is the biggest recovery operation undertaken in the region in decades.
A search and rescue operation is underway in the Potomac River. 30/03/2025 Photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI Credit: UPI/Alamy Live News
