US jet carrying 60 passengers collides with helicopter, crashes into river

An American Airlines flight has collided in mid-air with a helicopter in Washington DC, BBC reports citing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. It happened while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9pm local time, the FAA says in a statement to CBS News.

The plane crashed in the Potomac River, which weaves through DC, according to the DC Fire and EMS Department. US authorities are investigating

AFP said Reagan National Airport was reportedly closed runways due to an ongoing emergency.

"MPD is responding to an apparent air crash in the Potomac River. Multiple agencies are responding," Washington's Metropolitan Police Department posted on X, while the DC Fire and emergency response services said fireboats were responding to "small aircraft down in Potomac River" in the vicinity of the airport.

A US Army official confirmed to the BBC's US news partner CBS that an Army Black Hawk helicopter was involved in the incident.

DC Police have issued a statement saying multiple calls were received at 20:53 EST (01:53GMT) abut an aircraft crash above the Potomac River. Police say there is no confirmed information about causalties at this time. Multiple agencies are coordinating search and rescue operations in the Potomar River.