ADDS MORE REMARKS BY WASHINGTON DC MAYOR, INFO
By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - 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.
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 Reagan National Airport (DCA) said "takeoffs and landings at the airport were halted for the remainder of the evening."