An American Airlines flight carrying dozens of passengers has collided with a US military helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC.

Officials confirmed that the aircraft then crashed into the Potomac River, prompting an urgent search-and-rescue operation. Boats and divers are currently scouring the water for survivors.

Crash Details

The Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was on final approach when it collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter around 9:00 PM EST (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

The flight had originated from Wichita, Kansas, according to American Airlines.

Rescue Efforts Underway

US media reports indicate that the crashed plane has split in half in the Potomac River. Emergency responders, including boats and divers, are actively searching for survivors.

A US defense official confirmed that three US Army soldiers were aboard the Black Hawk helicopter, which had taken off from Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Government Response

US President Donald Trump stated that he had been “fully briefed on the terrible accident.”

“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,” he said in a statement.

In response to the incident, takeoffs and landings at Ronald Reagan National Airport have been temporarily halted, according to an airport update on X (formerly Twitter).

Ongoing Investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the mid-air collision.