Tragic Plane Collision in Washington DC: Latest Updates and Eyewitness Accounts**

The incident has claimed at least 18 lives and sparked investigations while first responders face challenging conditions during rescue efforts.**

The tragic mid-air collision between a commercial passenger plane and a US Army helicopter has raised considerable alarm and sorrow in Washington DC. The crash occurred on Wednesday night at approximately 9:00 PM local time as the PSA Airlines jet, traveling as American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Onboard the Bombardier CRJ700 were 60 passengers and four crew members.

In the aftermath, search and rescue teams have bravely pulled 18 bodies from the icy waters of the Potomac River. First responders have been tirelessly working through harsh conditions, as temperatures drop and pieces of ice float in the river, complicating search efforts. The helicopter involved, a Sikorsky H-60 belonging to a training unit out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, had three soldiers aboard.

Eyewitnesses have shared harrowing accounts of the incident. One reported seeing sparks trailing from the plane as it made a sudden maneuver, while another described the initial sighting of a "white flare" before the catastrophe unfolded. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the event, with additional oversight from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

As the situation develops, the immediate concern remains on the search for survivors amid the wreckage, which is said to be split in half in the river. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed profound condolences, reflecting the sentiments of a nation in grieving over families connected to this tragedy. With investigations underway and the community in shock, the implications of this incident on aviation safety will be under scrutiny in the coming weeks.