Casualties as 60-passenger plane collides with chopper in Washington airport

Many are feared dead in an accident involving an American Airlines carrying 60 passengers and a black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night at Reagan Washington national airport, in the United States.

At least 18 bodies of passengers have been recovered by emergency rescue workers.

According to a preliminary statement from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet that departed from Wichita, Kansas collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Reagan Washington National Airport.

The passenger plane crashed into the Potomac River in Washington DC after colliding with a military helicopter in mid-air.

The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it collided with the helicopter that was carrying three soldiers, multiple news outlets reported, citing US defence officials.

All takeoffs and landings were halted at the airport as the rescue operation got underway at the airport,

Edward Kelly, the general president of the international association of firefighters, said many firefighters were “engaged in dive operations” on the Potomac River for rescue efforts.

Ambulances and other rescue workers including from the military, the park police and the DC metropolitan police department also rushed to the scene, The UK Guardian

President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the “terrible accident” and praising the “incredible work” done by emergency services.

US senator Ted Cruz said “we know there are fatalities” from the plane and helicopter collision, although he did not say where he had got his information from and there are no confirmed casualties as yet.

The mayor of Washington DC Muriel Bowser told reporters at a press briefing that firefighters are working “diligently” in dark and cold conditions to rescue victims.

U.S President Donald Trump said the accident could have been prevented in a post on his social media site Truth Social.

Trump wrote the plane was on a “perfect and routine line of approach to the airport”, while the helicopter was going “straight at the airplane for an extended period of time”.

“It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn,” he added.

“Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane.

“This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented.”

The airport will remain closed until 11am (4pm UK time).