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Washington midair crash: What we know so far

WASHINGTON, United States — A US commercial airliner with 64 people aboard and a military helicopter collided over Washington on Wednesday before crashing into the Potomac River.

A rescue mission had turned into a recovery operation by Thursday, with no survivors expected.

Here's what we know so far:

Just before 9:00 pm (0200 GMT Thursday) a Bombardier jet operated by American Airlines subsidiary PSA was approaching Reagan National Airport when it collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter.

American Eagle Flight 5342 was flying to the US capital from Wichita, Kansas -- typically a journey time of just under three hours.

Air traffic controllers asked the jet to switch its landing route from one runway to another shortly before the crash, according to The New York Times, which added this was a routine request for regional flights.

Ahead of the crash, controllers warned the helicopter it was on course to collide with the passenger jet.

Footage from the nearby Kennedy Center captured a small aircraft heading towards a well-lit descending plane before a fireball can be seen.

Both plunged into the Potomac River, with the plane fuselage splitting into three separate pieces.

Authorities say they do not expect any survivors from the crash, and were on Thursday working to recover 67 bodies from the river.

American Airlines reported 60 passengers and four crew members were aboard the flight, while three US Army personnel were on the helicopter, according to a military official.

The plane was carrying athletes and coaches from the elite figure skating world, including former Russian world pairs champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

US Figure Skating said "several" members of its community were aboard the flight.

The plane pilot was identified by US media as Sam Lilley, a 28-year-old with six years experience at American Airlines, and who was engaged to be married.

Washington fire chief John Donnelly said a large-scale and "highly complex" recovery operation was launched Wednesday night. Boats were still on the water Thursday looking for victims and wreckage.

Water conditions were cold enough for hypothermia to set in within 30 minutes, according to experts, and

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