Passenger plane splits into pieces after colliding midair with army helicopter in US

In a horrific mid-air collision, an American Airlines flight carrying 60 passengers crashed into a US Army military helicopter in Washington DC. The accident caused the passenger plane to break apart and plunge into the Potomac River, prompting frantic rescue efforts to recover survivors and victims.

The incident involved a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet, operating as American Airlines Flight 5342, and a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers.

The military aircraft, which also crashed, was from Fort Belvoir, a military installation in Virginia.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the passenger plane had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and the collision occurred near Reagan National Airport at 21:00 local time.

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Rescue teams are actively searching the Potomac River, with CNN reporting that debris from both aircraft has been spotted in the water.

Several US authorities, including the FBI, have launched an investigation into the crash, though the exact cause of the tragedy remains unknown.

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In response to the crash, all landings and takeoffs at Reagan National Airport have been halted, and flights are being rerouted to other airports as rescue operations continue.

Reagan National Airport is the main airport for Washington, DC.