A video has captured the tragic moment an American Airlines passenger jet collided mid-air with a US army helicopter and landed in a river on Wednesday evening (29 January).

60 passengers and four crew members were on board American Airlines Flight 5432 when it crashed into a military helicopter, which was carrying three people, at around 9pm local time.

At least 19 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River, according to CBS, with 300 responders reportedly working on the rescue operation.

64 people were on the American Airlines passenger jet which collided mid-air with a US army helicopter last night (29 January) (EarthCam)

The Bombardier CRJ700 had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and was landing into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington DC.

As seen in the clip above, the plane collided with a Sikorsky H-60, which had taken off from Fort Belvoir in Virginia, with a US army official confirming to NBC News that the helicopter had been participating in a training flight.

The horrifying footage shows the mid air explosion take place as the aircraft and helicopter burst into flames, while air traffic control audio which has been released documenting their reactions before and after the crash.

All take-offs and landings from the airport have been halted as inflatable rubber rescue boats were launched into the river in search for survivors, while helicopters flew over the scene.

Washington Fire and EMS chief John A Donnelly said in a press conference (via CNN) that the conditions are ‘extremely rough for responders’.

“The water is dark. It is murky,” he said regarding the eight-feet deep river. He also said they ‘didn’t know if there were any survivors’, but added they were ‘working on it’.

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that the airport would be closed until at least 5am on Friday (31 January).

US President Donald Trump has thanked first responders for their ‘incredible work’, adding that he had been ‘fully briefed on the terrible accident’.

“May God rest bless their souls.” he said.

However, on his social media site, Truth Social, he began questioning how such an incident was able to take place.

Emergency response teams responded to the incident (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,” he said. “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. 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. NOT GOOD!!!”

He added: “What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”

Meanwhile, American Airlines said: “American Eagle Flight 5342 en route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA) was involved in an accident at DCA. The flight was operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700.

“There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft. Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.

“If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.”

LADbible Group has contacted American Airlines for an update.

An American Airlines passenger jet has collided mid-air with a US army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington DC.

The PSA Airlines jet, operating as American Airlines 5432, collided with the helicopter around 21:00 local time on Wednesday (29 January). The Bombardier CRJ700, departed from Wichita, Kansas and collided with a Sikorsky H-60 that had taken off from Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

CBS reports that 60 passengers and four crew members were on board the passenger plane, and at least 19 bodies have been recovered so far.

Here is the audio from an airline official who witnessed the aftermath of the devastating crash:

All take-offs and landings from the airport were halted as helicopters flew over the scene in search of survivors, while inflatable rescue boats were launched into the nearby Potomac River.

“The accident happened in the river,” an official said in the audio obtained by the outlet. “Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river.”

NBC has also reported what a controller said after they’d witnessed what happened shortly after the incident.

Emergency crews have responded to the incident (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“It was probably out in the middle of the river. Um, I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river,” they said. “But It was a CR-J and a helicopter that hit, I would say a half-mile of the approach.”

According to CNN, another pilot can be heard saying ‘we saw flares from the opposite side of the Potomac’ after witnessing the collision, while an approach controller added: “Apparently both aircraft involved are in the river, a search and rescue will be ongoing.”

Roy Best, a federal employee, claims he was on the rooftop of his building located next to the airport when the collision took place.

He told CNN: “It was just a loud noise. So I turned to the side, and I saw a big spark. And then just something falling. Because it was kind of dark. Couldn’t really tell what it was. I didn’t know if it was a firecracker or what.”

President Donald Trump said he has been briefed on the ‘terrible accident’.

The PSA Airlines jet, operating as American Airlines 5432, collided with a US Army helicopter around 21:00 local time on Wednesday (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

He thanked first responders for their ‘incredible work,’ noting that he was ‘monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise’, adding: “May God Bless their souls.”

“Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening,” Vice President JD Vance wrote on X.

“We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best.”

“American Eagle Flight 5342 en route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA) was involved in an accident at DCA. The flight was operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700,” American Airlines said in a statement.

“There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft.

“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”

LADbible Group has contacted American Airlines for an update.

Everything we know so far about the American Airlines plane crash

What caused the American Airlines crash?

This is still to be determined, with the black boxes from both the helicopter and plane vital to establishing what was going on in the build up to the fatal collision.

All we know at this stage is that the passenger plane and military helicopter collided as the plane was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport’s Runaway 33 to land.

Who was on board the American Airlines flight?

It has been confirmed that 60 passengers and four crew were on American Airlines flight 5342, while three people were on board the helicopter.

US Figure Skating, which is the American governing body for the sport, has announced that a number of athletes and coaches were on board the fateful flight.

What has American Airlines said about the crash?

The CEO of American Airlines, Robert Isom, issued a response to the incident as he explained he was travelling to DC with a specialist team to aid the investigation.

In a statement, the businessman said: “This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, along with their families and loved ones.

“I know that there are many questions. At this early stage, I’ll not be able to answer all of them, but I do want to share the information I have at this time.”

What has Donald Trump said about the American Airlines crash?

President Trump described the incident as a ‘bad situation’ that ‘should have been prevented’.

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“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.

“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. NOT GOOD!!! What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”

What’s the latest on the rescue operation?

During a press conference, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said his team ‘don’t know’ if they’ll find anybody alive, explaining that weather conditions were making the rescue operation tougher.

“There is wind. There are pieces of ice in the water… And because there is not a lot of light, you are out there searching every square inch of space,” he said.

“These are very tough conditions for [rescuers] to dive in.”

It has been reported that a pair of world champion figure skaters were involved in the tragic Washington DC plane crash last night.

An American Airlines flight collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter at about 9pm local time on 29 January near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with both crashing into the Potomac River.

The plane was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the chopper had three soldiers on board. Nineteen bodies have reportedly been recovered so far, the BBC reports, while rescuers continue to search in freezing temperatures.

As US Figure Skating confirmed several members of its skating community were on board the flight, state-run Russian news agency TASS named two former world champions as passengers.

The governing body for figure skating in the US confirmed that athletes, coaches and family members were on board as they returned from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the US Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

It added in a statement: “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.”

Ice skating coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov are said to have been among those skaters on board, according to Russian state media.

Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov are said to be among those on board (Chris Cole/ALLSPORT)

It is also said their son, Maxim, who is also a skater, may have been on the flight as well with his name listed on the event’s site as a competitor. The married couple won the world championships in pairs figure skating back in 1994 and live in the US where they train young skaters.

TASS also said former skater for the Soviet Union, Inna Volyanskaya, was reportedly on board. She coaches at the Washington figure skating club.

Operating as American Airlines 5432, the PSA Airlines jet was set to touch down on Runway 33 at the airport when it collided with the military helicopter, a Sikorsky H-60.

Robert Isom, head of the American Airlines, said he was travelling to Washington DC with a special team to aid the investigation into the crash.

He said in a statement: “I know that there are many questions. At this early stage, I’ll not be able to answer all of them, but I do want to share the information I have at this time.”

Emergency crews are searching the river (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The CEO added: “We are actively working with local, state and federal authorities on emergency response efforts, and the American Airlines care team has been activated to assist our passengers and their families.

“We’re cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation, and we’ll continue to provide all the information we can. Our cooperation is without pause, and we want to learn everything we can about today’s events.”

Isom expressed his ‘deep sorrow’ about the incident as he said the team ‘of highly trained professionals will be working around the clock to support our passengers, crew and their families’.

Donald Trump has questioned the circumstances surrounding the tragic American Airlines plane crash last night (29 January).

At least 19 bodies have been recovered after a PSA Airlines jet, operating as American Airlines 5432, collided mid-air with a military helicopter at around 9.00pm local time.

The Bombardier CRJ700, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a Sikorsky H-60 that had taken off from Fort Belvoir in Virginia. 60 passengers and four crew members were on board the passenger plane, while three soldiers were on board the helicopter.

What Donald Trump has said about the American Airlines plane crash

US President Trump said he has been briefed on the ‘terrible accident’, and has thanked first responders for their ‘incredible work.’

However, the 78-year-old believes it ‘looks like it should have been prevented’.

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,” he wrote on his social media site Truth Social.

“The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time.

President Donald Trump has commented on the incident (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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

“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. NOT GOOD!!!”

He added: “What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!”

Chilling air traffic audio has been released by American Airlines, as dispatchers witnessed the aftermath of the tragic crash.

“The accident happened in the river,” an official said, according to CBS.

“Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river.”

Rescue workers attended the scene (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“It was probably out in the middle of the river. Um, I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river,” a controller also said, according to NBC.

“But it was a CR-J and a helicopter that hit, I would say a half-mile of the approach.”

What has American Airlines said?

“American Eagle Flight 5342 en route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C. (DCA) was involved in an accident at DCA. The flight was operated by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-700,” American Airlines said in a statement.

“There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft.

“Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts.”

“If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.”