A US Army Black Hawk helicopter and a PSA Airlines American Eagle Flight 5342 en route from Wichita, Kansas to Washington, D.C. carrying 64 people were involved in a mid-air collision over Washington D.C.'s Potomac River adjoining the Reagan National Airport earlier today.
A US Army official said the helicopter was carrying three soldiers and their status is currently unknown. There is no official confirmation of casualties at this time but bodies have reportedly been pulled from the water.
More than 300 first responders are involved in what they are calling "search and rescue" operations.
The Washington D.C. air space is among the busiest in world with Army and US State Department helicopters flying around the Ronald Reagan National Airport that sees 800 commercial airline flights a day, on average.
Conditions are dark and river waters are eight feet deep. Search and salvage operations are on going in full force. However, near-freezing water temperatures of the Potomac, and ice in the water, are hampering rescue efforts and also slimming the chances of survival.
The commercial jet was seconds from touching down on the runway when it struck the US Army Black Hawk helicopter creating a giant fireball in the sky. Although it was a clear night, visibility and blind spot issues may have caused the accident.
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