An American Airlines passenger jet with 64 people on board has crashed midair into a military helicopter while attempting to land at Reagan National Airport in Washington.
Emergency services in the city are searching the nearby Potomac River after the jet plummeted into the water just before 9pm on Wednesday night.
Law enforcement sources say there are confirmed fatalities and no survivors have yet been rescued.
CBS meanwhile have reported that the bodies of 18 people have been recovered, and that divers are exploring three debris fields.
Russian figure skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on board the plane, Russian state-run TASS news agency reports, citing a source.
Shishkova and Naumov, who were married, won the world championship in pairs figure skating in 1994.
US figure skating has confirmed that several members of its skating community were on board the flight.
'These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,' its statement reads.
'We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts. We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.'
The airline has confirmed that there were 60 passengers and four crew members on Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to the capital when the collision happened.
The plane is said to have split in two and is in around seven feet of water, while the helicopter is upside down and is unstable, according to the outlet.
Images captured at the scene show emergency officials on boats around what appears to be part of the fuselage and a wing jutting out of the river.
The Federal Aviation Authority said that the jet, a Bombardier CRJ700, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Runway 33.
Defense officials have confirmed that the Black Hawk was an Army chopper carrying three soldiers on a training flight.
The plane was being operated as an American Eagle Flight by PSA Airlines for its parent carrier American Airlines.
In audio from the air traffic control tower around the time of the crash, a controller is heard asking the helicopter, 'PAT25 do you have the CRJ in sight,' in reference to the passenger aircraft.
'Tower, did you see that?' another pilot is heard calling seconds after the apparent collision. The tower immediately began diverting other aircraft from Reagan.
At a press conference, officials could not give any further information on casualties and could not confirm whether any bodies had been recovered.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy did say that the FAA would study the crash and look at possibly changing flight paths around Reagan National.
Officials said there were 300 first responders out working in 'complex and extremely rough' conditions, citing ice still in the cold water.
Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said; 'If you can imagine, the river is a large black spot at night with no lights on it, except for a few buoy lights.'
The airport said in a post to X: 'All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open. Will update.'
Images taken at the scene show scores of emergency service teams along the riverside.
Footage has also emerged online of helicopters with search lights passing over the Potomac River.
Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to conjoin in a fireball.
Surveillance footage taken from inside the airport also captured the moment the two collided in midair.
Flightradar tracking data shows the final approach of the flight as it crosses over the Potomac, before it cuts out.
NBC Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer said that at the time of the incident the water temperature in the river was around 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kammerer said that at that temperature someone in the water has only 15 to 20 minutes before they start suffering from hypothermia.
Hamaad Ramza spoke with WUSA on Wednesday evening and revealed that his wife had been on the plane when it crashed.
He said: 'I'm just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now as we speak. I'm just praying to God.'
As the rescue mission continued, a small crowd gathered silently on the west bank of the Potomac River at Daingerfield Island in Virginia.
They watched as three helicopters shone spotlights on the black water scouring for survivors.
There was a small debris field on the water and a boat, and it was believed divers had gone in.
Vast numbers of emergency vehicles were gathered on the east bank of the river, on the Washington D.C. side, their lights illuminating the Capitol building and the Washington Monument.
More emergency vehicles waited on the end of the airport runway to the north of where the crash happened. Police vehicles closed off roads accessing the airport building, which was virtually empty.
As the disaster unfolded the two terminal buildings at Reagan National Airport were eerily quiet.
In Terminal 2, where the flight had been due to arrive, digital signs read: 'Due to an emergency all flights are being held on the airfield. For customers on departing flights please check with your airline representative.'
A smattering of passengers waited for early departing flights, reading about news of the crash on their phones.
Through a vast window overlooking the airfield they could see a forest of red and blue lights from emergency vehicles on the runway beyond the parked planes.
A Red Cross van brought supplies of bottled water and food to the terminal, and a group of men in khaki arrived to join the rescue effort.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall posted to his X saying: 'Tonight, we received devastating news of what can only be described as nothing short of a nightmare.
'A plane, traveling to the Nation's capital from Wichita, KS carrying roughly 60 passengers collided with a Military helicopter.
'My prayer is that God wraps his arms around each and every victim and that he continues to be with their families.
'There are no words that can make telling this story any easier. I ask the world to join me in praying for Kansas this evening, the first responders, rescue crews, and all those involved in this horrific accident.
'I have been in contact with local and national authorities asking for answers and will continue to demand more information on how this unfolded.'
The White House has also confirmed the nature of the crash, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming live on air that President Trump had been made aware.
Trump said in a statement: '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 and will provide more details as they arise.'
American Airlines said in a statement: 'We're aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident. We will provide information as it becomes available.'
In a post to X, Vice President JD Vance said: 'Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening.
'We're monitoring the situation, but for now let's hope for the best.'
An FAA statement said: 'A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time.
'PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation.'
DailyMail.com has approached the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for more information.
American Airlines has asked that anybody that believes they had loved ones on the flight to call 800-679-8215.
