Rescue operation underway after small plane crashes near Potomac River in Washington

A level collided successful midair with a chopper approaching Reagan Washington National Airport, adjacent the Potomac River, Wednesday night, officials set.

A rescue cognition was underway, officials said.

Multiple 911 callers reported the clang adjacent the stream conscionable earlier 8:55 p.m., according to a associated connection from the Metropolitan Police Department and the District of Columbia Fire and EMS.

In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration said a PSA Airlines determination jet, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, collided successful midair with a Sikorsky chopper portion connected attack to a runway astatine Reagan Washington National Airport astir 9 p.m.

PSA was operating arsenic Flight 5342 for American Airlines, the FAA reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board volition investigated].

“DC Fire and EMS, the Metropolitan Police Department and aggregate spouse agencies are presently coordinating a hunt and rescue cognition successful the Potomac River,” the statement read.

Flights successful and retired of Reagan National Airport were halted astir 9:10 p.m. arsenic reports of the clang peppered crossed societal media.

In a station connected X, The District of Columbia Fire and EMS confirmed a tiny craft crashed and fireboats were connected the country aiding successful a hunt for immoderate imaginable victims.