(The Center Square) – There appear to be no survivors from the midair collision over the Potomac River between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter, according to officials.
Shortly before 9 p.m. local time Wednesday, American Airlines flight 5342 out of Wichita, Kan., “collided midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport,” according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration.
American Airlines confirmed 60 passengers and four crew members on the commercial airliner. The Army said three soldiers were on the Blackhawk helicopter.
The crash has shifted from a “rescue operation to recovery operation,” according to Chief John Donnelly of DC Fire and EMS.
“We don’t expect any survivors,” Donnelly told reporters.
The chief confirmed during a Thursday morning news conference that 27 bodies have been recovered from the jet and one from the helicopter.
Newly confirmed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the plane was in three different sections, “about waist-deep water.”
Duffy, who responded to the collision only hours after being sworn into office, emphasized that both the plane and helicopter were following standard flight plans.
“It is not standard for aircraft to collide,” Duffy said as reporters pressed him on the standard paths of the aircraft.
“The helicopter was aware there was a plane in the area,” Duffy said in response to questions concerning communications between the air traffic control tower and the two aircraft.
“It has been described as a training mission,” Duffy explained as to why the Army Blackhawk helicopter was in the area.
He said a training flight is not an indicator of the pilot’s inexperience, as pilots are working to increase hours and experience.
Airport officials have confirmed the airport will resume operations late Thursday morning.
Three hundred responders worked the scene overnight, and multiple local, state and federal agencies responded to the collision.