An American Airlines jet with 64 people aboard collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Army helicopter carrying three soldiers while approaching Reagan Washington National Airport, crashing into the Potomac River on Wednesday night.

Airport preferred by Washington lawmakers and lobbyists lies in some of the most congested airspace in the country.

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A small aircraft crashed in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport late Wednesday, and fire boats were on the scene, the Washington fire department said.

The Star Editorial Board thinks Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, member of a subcommittee on aviation, can and should lead the way in re-examining air safety.

A multi-agency search and rescue operation is underway in the Potomac River after a small American Airlines aircraft collided with an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport, authorities confirmed.

A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the arriving commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan National and the pilots said they were able. Controllers then cleared the plane to land on Runway 33. Flight tracking sites showed the plane adjust its approach to the new runway.

The crash on Wednesday night near Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport involved an American Airlines flight from Wichita and a Black Hawk helicopter. No one is believed to have survived the crash.

Officials said a search and rescue operation is underway, adding there is no information on any casualties at this time.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A small aircraft crashed in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport late Wednesday, and fire boats were on the scene, the Washington fire department said.

Officials believe there are no survivors after a passenger plane on approach to Reagan National Airport near Washington, DC, collided Wednesday night with a US Army helicopter midair, sending both aircraft into the Potomac River below,

Search and rescue operations have turned into a recovery mission after an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army helicopter collided Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan National Airport.

An American Airlines flight that departed from Wichita, Kansas, on Wednesday collided with a military helicopter at Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C.