A search and rescue mission is underway in the Potomac River after a military helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional aircraft near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening.
Both aircrafts fell into the frigid waters around 9 p.m., where hundreds of emergency personnel have been searching for any survivors into the early hours on Thursday.
More than 30 bodies have been recovered during the search and rescue operation, NBC Washington reported, citing two sources familiar with the search efforts.
American Eagle flight 5342 was traveling from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., and had 60 passengers and four crew members on board, American Airlines said in a statement.
Ron McLendon II, deputy director for JTF-NCR/USAMDW Public Affairs, said in a statement to NBC News a military helicopter was performing a training mission at the time of the collision.
“While performing a training mission a United States Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Va., collided in midair with an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet Flight 5342 last night at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport,” he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Army and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash, McLendon II said.
