US plane crash: There are believed to be no survivors

US officials have confirmed they are “switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.”

They have said “We don’t believe there are any survivors.”

At least 30 bodies have now been recovered from the Potomac River following the plane crash.

US figure skating have confirmed that  athletes and coaches from their team were onboard the flight.

Russian citizens were also on board, the Kremlin confirmed – after Russian media reported that ice skating coaches and former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on the plane.

The jet carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew collided with a US Army helicopter mid-air as it approached to land at Ronald Regan Washington National Airport.

Searches continue as temperatures are currently at just 4 degrees celsuius.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has grounded all of it’s flights, as authorities proceed to investigate the incident.

American Airlines 5324 flight collided mid-air with a US Army Helicopter at around 15:00 local time on Wednesday.

The Bombardier CRJ 700 was operated by American Eagle, a partner of American Airlines and was flying to the capital from Wichita, Kansas.

The US Army helicopter involved was a Sikorsky H-60, which departed from Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

The Pentagon announced there were three US Soldiers on board.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced they will be conduct an investigation into the incident in collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Washington DC Fire and Emergency Services Chief John Donnelly said there are around 300 responders which have been deployed on rubber boats in the rescue operation.

Reports from United States media indicated that the passenger aircraft appeared to be severed in two on the Potomac River, while the helicopter was found inverted in the water.

President Donald Trump stated that he had received comprehensive updates regarding the “tragic incident” and that he was keeping a close watch on the developments.

On his TruthSocial account, he has expressed concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident, stating: “This is a troubling situation that appears to have been avoidable. NOT GOOD!!!”

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are also keeping a close watch on the situation.