Washington, D.C. – A catastrophic mid-air collision near Reagan Washington National Airport has claimed multiple lives after an American Airlines regional passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the Potomac River.

Emergency responders are actively searching for survivors as investigators work to determine the cause of the deadly crash. Authorities have not yet released the number of casualties, but initial reports confirm significant loss of life.

Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene as the two aircraft collided, sending wreckage spiraling into the river. “I saw a fireball in the sky, and then pieces of debris falling into the water,” said one witness.

The crash has severely disrupted flight operations in the region, with officials urging the public to avoid the area. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are leading the investigation, alongside military officials.