LIVE: DC plane crash updates

Officials do not believe anyone survived the midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter over Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night.

The American Airlines jet had 60 passengers and four crew members. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.

According to officials, the helicopter apparently flew into the flight path of the plane while it was landing at the airport.

The crash triggered a major search-and-rescue operation in the icy Potomac River. Dozens of bodies were recovered from the waters during the overnight hours. The plane's fuselage was found upside down and broken into three sections in waist-deep water. The wreckage of the helicopter was also located.

If the casualty numbers hold, this incident could become the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly 24 years.

President Donald Trump has posted a message of condolence to those impacted by the deadly midair collision.

"I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls," he said on Truth Social.

"Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise."

Former President Barack Obama responded to the tragedy after 67 are feared dead following a midair collision over Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C.

"Our hearts break for the families who lost loved ones in the tragic plane and helicopter crash at DCA," Obama posted online Thursday morning. "Michelle and I send our prayers and condolences to everyone who is mourning today, and we’re grateful to the first responders who are doing everything they can to help under extremely difficult circumstances."

Among the victims were two young figure skaters, two of their parents, and two highly regarded Russian coaches. Doug Zeghibe, chief executive of the Skating Club of Boston, confirmed Thursday that skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, along with coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were among those killed.

"This will have long reaching impacts for our community," he said during a news conference where he was visibly emotional, according to the Associated Press.

Two Russian figure skating coaches, whose son recently finished fourth at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, were among those feared dead after an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter collided and crashed into the frigid waters of the Potomac River.

U.S. Figure Skating confirmed to the Associated Press that several skaters, coaches, and family members were on the commercial flight after attending a development camp following the national championships that concluded Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.

Among the deceased were Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, renowned Russian skaters who had been coaching at the Skating Club of Boston since 2017.

The Skating Club of Boston said six of its members or associates were killed in the crash. Doug Zeghibe of the Skating Club of Boston said two teenagers were among the dead, according to the Associated Press.

"We don't believer there are any survivors"

"We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation," said John Donnelly, D.C. fire chief at a news conference Thursday morning. "We don't believe there are any survivors."

The plane's fuselage was discovered upside down, broken into three sections in waist-deep water. The wreckage of the helicopter was also located.

D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly said first responders on Thursday were searching an area of the Potomac River extending as far south as the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, approximately three miles from the airport.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the collision. However, officials noted that flight conditions were clear as the jet, arriving from Wichita, Kansas, with U.S. and Russian figure skaters and others on board, was making a routine landing when the helicopter flew into its path.