WASHINGTON D.C., DC — The first report of a plane crash over the Potomac River in Washington D.C. came in at 8:48 p.m. ET Wednesday as an American Airlines flight was about to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport while a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was flying south.

The WTHR team's thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the plane/helicopter crash victims.

Flight path Wednesday night (1/29)

The crash was right over the River, 1000-2000 ft southeast of Runway 33.

This is very busy airspace. DCA, or Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, has one of the busiest airspaces in the world, including the busiest runway in the U.S., Runway 1.

American Airlines 5342 flight from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., was flying northwest on its final approach into D.C. Roughly about 350 feet above the water, it collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.

The helicopter was flying south on a training mission along the Potomac River. Seconds before the collision, the military aircraft took a slight right hand turn.

Weather conditions

Skies were clear with no fog. However it was a bit windy. NW winds were gusting over 20 mph.

The wind in this case was out of the northwest. The American Airlines aircraft was flying into the wind, which is favorable by pilots while landing.

The wind was more of a cross wind for the U.S. Army helicopter.

More details as of 6 a.m.