An American Airlines regional jet went down in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, Wednesday evening, prompting a multi-agency search-and-rescue operation, according to officials.
The airport will be closed until at least Friday at 5 a.m., according to the FAA.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that preliminary information suggests a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet was involved in a midair collision with a helicopter while approaching the airport at approximately 9 p.m. local time.
The military chopper had three soldiers on board and was not carrying any VIPs, a defense official told CNN. The Black Hawk can carry 15 people, according to Fox News.
The airline confirmed that 60 passengers and four crew members were on board.
The U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 over the Potomac River was on a training flight at the time, according to Heather Chairez, spokesperson for Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.
American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, was traveling from Wichita, Kansas., to Washington when it collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter on approach, according to the New York Post.
"We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available."
First responders have pulled 18 bodies from the Potomac River following the crash.
The devastating toll was as of 11:30 p.m., CBS News reported, citing an official.
No survivors have been found yet, the outlet reported.
Rescue teams search the Potomac River
"The conditions out there are extremely rough," D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department Chief John Donnelly said." It's cold. They're dealing with relatively windy conditions."
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said Wednesday that his company is “cooperating fully” with the federal investigation into the crash of CG 700 aircraft near Reagan National Airport.
"We're cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation, and will continue to provide all the information we can,” Isom said in a video statement posted on the company’s website.
“Our cooperation is without pause, and we want to learn everything we can about today's events,” he added. “That work will take time, but anything we can do now, we're doing."
Isom expressed that the company felt “deep sorrow” over the accident and said he would be heading to Washington, DC “shortly.”
Inova Fairfax said its "hospitals are prepared to care for any patients from the tragic incident at DCA" just before midnight on Wednesday. "Our hearts are with all those affected," the medical provider also said in its statement to ABC News.
"At this time, we have not received any patients," VHC Health, formerly the Virginia Hospital Center, said in a statement at midnight on Wednesday.
"The crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a sad and shocking tragedy and our thoughts are with all those impacted by this incident. We are working directly with the Arlington and Metropolitan Police Department, Fire, and EMS teams and all authorities," VHC Health said, adding, "VHC Health is prepared to assist and support first responders as these agencies continue their emergency response."
This is a Developing story.
Additional information will be published once it becomes available.
For live updates, please follow ABC News.
Please keep all those involved including the search and rescue teams in your thoughts and prayers.
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