'Focus now is rescuing people,' Washington DC mayor says on mid-air collision

Washington DC mayor said early Thursday that rescue operation continues after a passenger plane and military helicopter crashed into the Potomac River late Wednesday.

"Both aircraft are in the water. The focus now is rescuing people," Muriel Bowser said at a news conference.

Her remarks came after an American Airlines regional passenger jet collided in midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said PSA was operating Flight 5342 for American Airlines, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas.

"A passenger plane coming to the airport here collided with a military helicopter," Bowser told the reporters at the airport, without giving further information about the rescue operation.

"All we can confirm tonight is the number of people on each aircraft, 64 people on the American Airlines plane, and three people on the military helicopter, when we can't provide any more information about recovery efforts," she added.

Previously, American Airlines confirmed that there were 60 passengers and four crew members on board.

Three US Army soldiers were on board a Black Hawk helicopter, a senior official said, according to reports. The source said no senior officials were on the helicopter.

According to the local media, a total of 18 bodies have been recovered so far.

Although the officials did not provide an update about the casualties, Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas told the reporters: "It's really hard when you lose probably over 60 Kansans simultaneously."

"When one person dies, it's a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it's an unbearable sorrow," Marshall added.

'About 300 first responders working'

The mayor said the related departments are executing a rescue operation in the Potomac River.

"They are working diligently in very dark and cold conditions, cold water to execute this rescue operation," she said.

Washington DC fire chief John Donnelly said there are currently about 300 first responders working.

"So, it's a highly complex operation. The conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders. It's cold. They're dealing with relatively windy conditions. Wind is hard out on the river," he told the reporters.

New Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he spoke with President Donald Trump and his team in the situation room, and he had a conversation with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, as well.

"We are going to offer a full support to those in the ground," Duffy told reporters.

Hegseth previously said an investigation was launched "immediately" by the US Army and Department of Defense.

Trump: Mid-air collision 'should have been prevented'

Trump said in a statement that he was fully briefed on the "terrible accident."

"May God Bless their souls. 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," he said.

Later, he took to the social media platform Truth Social and blamed the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers.

"The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn.

"Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!" Trump said.

Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) announced that "takeoffs and landings at the airport were halted for the remainder of the evening."

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom also expressed "deep sorrow" after mid-air collision.

"This is a difficult day for all of us at American Airlines, and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, along with their families and loved ones," Isom said.