Washington DC plane crash: What we know so far

The American Airlines flight was preparing to land at the Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided mid-air with the military aircraft and split into two pieces.

Washington plane crash latest: Follow updates as rescue continues

Both aircraft then crashed into the Potomac River and 300 responders are currently working on the scene in "extremely tough" conditions, officials have said.

Despite local media reports claiming four people have been found alive, DC fire chief John Donnelly said at a press conference: "We don't know if there are survivors, but we are working on it."

This is what we know so far.

What aircraft were involved?

The crash involved a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ701 twin-engine jet regional jet and a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed.

The jet was American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, and was travelling from Wichita in Kansas to Reagan Washington National Airport. American Eagle is a regional brand for American Airlines.

The other aircraft was a US Army helicopter - a UH-60 Black Hawk based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia - which was on a training flight.

What we know about the crash itself

A few minutes before it was scheduled to land, the American Eagle flight was given permission to approach runway 33. Air traffic controllers checked with the helicopter pilot that they had the arriving plane in sight.

Seconds later, the airliner was on approach to runway 33 and the US Army helicopter when the collision happened.

CTV footage shows a flash of light in the sky at 8.47pm local time (1.47am UK time) appearing to show the moment the aircraft collided and burst into flames.

Flight tracking information, based on data transmitted by the Bombardier plane's radio transponder, reveals it was at an altitude of about 400ft and a speed of about 140mph when it suffered a rapid loss of altitude over the Potomac River.

The plane broke into two pieces and is in about 7ft of water in the river, sources told the local NBC News station in Washington DC. The helicopter is upside down in the water.

Air traffic audio recorded in the immediate aftermath of the crash has been released. A controller says: "Um, I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven't seen anything since they hit the river. But it was a CRJ [the type of plane that crashed] and a helicopter that hit, I would say a half-mile off the approach."

Within minutes, the controllers began redirecting other planes in the region.

Who was on board the plane and helicopter?

There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the jetliner, and three soldiers on the military aircraft.

US Figure Skating, the national governing body for the sport in the US, said in a statement that several members of its skating community were on the passenger plane.

It said the athletes and coaches were returning home from the national development camp in Kansas.

"We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts," the statement said.

Championship figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov have been named by Russian news agency TASS as two people who were on the plane.

The married couple from Russia won the world championship in pairs figure skating in 1994.

Has anyone been found?

The number of bodies recovered from the crash site is "approaching 20", sources have told Sky News' US partner site NBC News.

Earlier, CBS News said at least 18 bodies had been pulled from the Potomac River.

Citing a police official, it said no survivors had been found yet.

Earlier local media reports claimed four people had been found alive, but DC fire chief John Donnelly said at a press conference: "We don't know if there are survivors, but we are working on it."

Officials have not provided any further information yet.

'Highly complex' rescue operation under way

About 300 responders, inflatable boats and multiple helicopters are being used as part of the search and rescue operation which began about 10 minutes after the collision.

Mr Donnelly said the operation is "highly complex" due to "extremely rough conditions".

He said hypothermia is a concern for any possible survivors and first responders as it is currently cold and windy.

He added: "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.

"These are very tough conditions to dive in."

The US army and the defence department have begun an investigation into the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport would be closed until at least 4pm UK time.

Officials will give their next briefing at 12.30pm UK time, the mayor of Washington DC has said in an update on X.

-SKY NEWS