Officials have confirmed there are no survivors following the mid-air collision of an American Airlines plane, which was carrying 64 people on board, and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, collided mid-air with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while approaching Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport at 8:48 p.m. on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and EMS officials. Both aircraft went down into the Potomac River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are no survivors following the incident, officials confirmed in a press conference. The search and rescue operation has now been switched to a recovery operation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So far, the bodies of 28 victims have been recovered, 27 of them from the American Airlines plane and one from the Black Hawk helicopter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
American Airlines has confirmed that the flight had 60 passengers and four crew members on board. The Black Hawk was carrying three soldiers, according to the U.S. Army. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FAA confirmed that the aircraft was operated by Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) on behalf of American Airlines, under the American Eagle joint brand. It had departed from Wichita, Kansas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n