Wednesday’s fatal collision and two other incidents dramatically illustrate the challenges pilots and air traffic controllers face in the complex, security-sensitive skies above the nation’s capital.

There was a mid-air collision between a commercial airliner and a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter Wednesday night over the Capital Region. “The FAA and NTSB will investigate,” the statement added.

Federal authorities are asking questions as to how the collision between an American Airlines flight and a military helicopter could have occurred.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said they have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Multiple people are dead after passenger jet collides with a military helicopter midair near Reagan National Airport.

The Potomac River is running around 42 degrees. While search crews may don suits to help with the cold temperatures, passengers from Flight 5342 may only have 30-40 minutes. According to the flight manifest, American Eagle Flight 5342 had 60 passengers and four crew members on board.

No survivors found in crash between Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines jet over Potomac River near DC

Officials indicated a number of people died after an American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter Wednesday night, causing both to crash into the Potomac River. DC Fire and EMS (DCFE) and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said they received multiple calls about the incident near Ronald Reagan

The president at points acknowledged that it was too soon to draw conclusions as he encouraged the nation to pray for the victims. But he moved nonetheless to assign blame.

We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” said John Donnelly, the fire chief in the nation’s capital.

A plane collided in midair with a helicopter approaching Reagan Washington National Airport, near the Potomac River, Wednesday night, officials set. A rescue operation was underway, officials said. Multiple 911 callers reported the crash near the river just before 8:55 p.