Passenger jet in midair collision near Washington DC

Emergency services have rushed to the scene of a plane crash near Washington DC after a passenger jet approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport collided midair with a helicopter.
The PSA Airlines regional jet from Kansas was about to land near the airport on Wednesday night local time when it went down. All takeoffs and landings have been halted, according to the airport and law enforcement.
Emergency vehicles gathering near the site of the crash in Washington DC.Credit: AP
Multiple police and military helicopters are now flying over the scene of the incident in the Potomac River, as agencies conduct a search and rescue effort.
Video from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Centre shows two sets of lights consistent with aircraft appearing to join in a fireball.
PSA was operating Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It had earlier departed from Wichita, Kansas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. American Airlines says on its website that the jet has a capacity for up to 65 passengers.
More to come.
AP, Reuters