American Airlines plane that collided with Black Hawk helicopter in Washington 'split in two and is in about 7 feet of water'

The American Eagle Flight 5342 flight that collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington split into two before plunging into the Potomac River. The jet had 60 passengers and four crew members on board.

The aircraft, probably both, are about seven feet deep in the river, NBC Washington reported. Sources added that the search and rescue team has found pieces of the plane and the helicopter in the water, hinting at multiple casualties.

Though authorities have not yet confirmed the number of casualties, reports are that rescuers have not yet pulled any survivors from the water. Even if any of those onboard the aircraft survived the crash, the plunging temperature could prove fatal. The Potomac River is running around 42 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celcius). Without a suit to help with cold temperatures, passengers from Flight 5342 may only have 30-40 minutes. 

Also read: Video: Passenger jet collides with Army helicopter in US; remains in Potomac river

The helicopter involved in the crash was reportedly participating in a training flight. It was a Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir. It’s not clear from where the Black Hawk took off from before the collision.

A man, whose wife was on the plane, said he received a text message from his wife shortly before the plane was supposed to land. "She texted me that they were landing in 20 minutes," Hamaad Raza told CNN affiliate WUSA, adding that he realised something was wrong when his texts back to her did not get delivered.