UPDATE: Air Disaster in Washington DC, “There Are No Survivors”

UPDATE: Air Disaster in Washington DC, “There Are No Survivors”

An American Airlines-owned passenger jet carrying 64 people crashed into the Potomac River near Washington on Wednesday night after colliding midair with a military helicopter while approaching Reagan National Airport, the New York Times reported.

At a press conference at 7:30 AM on Thursday morning, Chief John A. Donnelly of the Washington DC Fire and EMS Department said, "There are no survivors."

He said the rescue effort has shifted to a recovery effort.

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It is believed that a total of 67 died in the crash.

 

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As GoLocal reported earlier on Thursday:

No one from the plane or the helicopter has been reported rescued as of 3:30 AM on Thursday.

“The plane was being operated as American Eagle Flight 5342 by PSA Airlines for its parent carrier, American Airlines, and had taken off from Wichita, Kan., with 60 passengers and four crew members onboard. At about 9 p.m., it collided with an Army helicopter carrying a crew of three,” said The Times.

Among the 64 on board were figure skaters, their coaches and family members were on board the flight, the sport's U.S. governing body confirmed early Thursday.

“U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C. 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,” the association said.