BALTIMORE — Maryland crews were called in for search and recovery efforts following a deadly aircraft collision over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.
The tragic crash took place Wednesday night involving a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and PSA operated American Airlines Flight 5342, which took off from Wichita, Kansas.
Reports indicate 60 passengers and four crew members were aboard the plane, while at least three people were in the helicopter.
All are presumed dead.
"Sadly, there are no survivors," President Donald Trump said Thursday morning. "This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation's capital and in our nation's history."
About 40 bodies have been recovered so far, including at least one soldier from the helicopter, sources told ABC News.
Sources added dive teams ceased operations to avoid moving the fuselage.
The remains will need to be extracted from the wreckage once it's lifted to the river's surface.
ABC sources warned of the possibility some victims may not be recovered due to a fireball created by the crash.
U.S. military officials said the Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, based out of Davison Army Airfield, in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was on a training exercise when the crash occurred.
ABC News confirmed Samuel Lilley as the first officer piloting the flight.
His sister, Tiffany Gibson, told ABC their father, Timothy, a retired Army veteran, flew Black Hawk helicopters over the Potomac River.
Gibson said Samuel recently got engaged.
"He was so young, and he was excited about life and his future and getting a dog and a house and kids," Gibson told the outlet. "And it's just, this is just tragic."
ABC also identified a flight attendant working on-board the airline as Ian Epstein.
"He was a father, a stepfather, a husband and a brother! He will be truly missed," his family said in a statement provided to ABC.
The International Skating Union says several figure skaters, coaches, family members, and friends, were aboard the flight.
Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers, the Associated Press reported per the Kremlin.
Both won World Championships in 1993, and competed in the 1992 and 1994 Olympics.
The Skating Club of Boston confirmed skaters Jinna Han and her mom, Jin Han, along with Spencer Lane, and his mom, Christine, were traveling as well.
All were returning home from the National Development Camp and U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Kansas.
The event serves as the final qualifier for the U.S. World and Junior Championship teams.
Teams from Maryland State Police, Prince George’s County Police, Baltimore City Police, Anne Arundel Fire, and Natural Resources were deployed to assist in the search.
Debris from the crash reportedly spread into Prince George’s County, said County Executive Tara Jackson.
As result Jackson said the plaza and piers at National Harbor would be closed Thursday.
In addition, Governor Wes Moore ordered Maryland's Emergency Management to raise its Operations Center to "Enhanced" status.
Reagan Airport is expected to be closed until at least 5am Friday. Current operations at BWI Airport are normal.
We're told there were about 10 inbound diversions from Reagan National Airport Wednesday night after the crash.
The NTSB is the lead investigating agency. They said a preliminary report would be issued in 30 days.
While the cause of the crash remains unclear, Trump on Thursday blasted past hiring practices of the Federal Aviation Administration.
One air traffic controller was doing the work of two people, according to a Federal Aviation Administration report obtained by The Associated Press.
Shortly after Trump appointed Christopher Rocheleau, a 22 year FAA veteran, as Acting Commissioner.
No details were revealed about air traffic control staffing leading up to the collision.
