'No survivors’ expected as officials give update on ‘devastating’ American Airlines plane and helicopter crash

Officials are not expecting to find survivors in a tragic crash involving an American Airlines plane and a helicopter near Washington D.C.

Last night (29 January), a PSA Airlines jet - operating as American Airlines 5432 - carrying 64 people collided with a US Army helicopter, which was carrying three soldiers.

The plane had been due to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near D.C when the tragic incident occurred, resulting in both aircrafts crashing into the Potomac River.

At a press conference today (30 January), an update was provided on the possibility of recovering people alive, with D.C Fire Chief John Donnelly saying: "We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.

"At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident."

He also confirmed that 27 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage of the plane, and one body from the helicopter had been found as part of the ongoing search efforts.

No survivors from the crash are expected and responders are 'switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation' (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

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 to land.

How many people were on board the American Airlines flight?

It has been confirmed that 60 passengers and four crew were on American Airlines flight 5342.

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.

In a statement, it said: "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.

"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."

No survivors have also been located at this stage as the investigation and recovery mission continues.

Meanwhile, three people were on board the helicopter.

An American Airlines passenger jet collided with a US Army helicopter on 29 January (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

What has American Airlines said about the crash?

The CEO of American Airlines, Robert Isom, issued a response to the incident in Washington DC 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."

Donald Trump's response

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 his social media site 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!"

Dispatcher audio of aftermath of American Airlines crash released

Air traffic control audio has since been released from the incident, detailing the harrowing moment dispatchers witness the crash.

"The accident happened in the river. Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river," a man on the audio says.

"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.

"But it was a CR-J [the type of plane] and a helicopter that hit, I would say a half-mile of the approach."