No survivors expected after collision between American Airlines plane and military helicopter at DCA

Officials say there are no expected survivors following a tragic midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter Wednesday evening at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA).

Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly confirmed Thursday morning that efforts were shifting from rescue to recovery.

“At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident, and we have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter,” Donnelly said at a press conference.

More than 60 people were believed to be aboard the flight, which was en route from Wichita, Kansas. The helicopter, on a training mission, collided with the plane just before it was scheduled to land around 9 p.m. EST.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said both aircraft, including the plane’s fuselage, have been located. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the cause of the accident in coordination with local authorities.

Emergency responders from multiple agencies—about 300 personnel in total—have been conducting search-and-rescue operations since the crash. Officials have not released details on the identities of the victims as recovery efforts continue.