The quest to find survivors from a tragic aviation accident is under intense operation. So far, the remains of 19 individuals have been retrieved from the frigid waters of the Potomac River, following a mid-air collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial passenger plane.

Local media has reported that this horrific incident occurred when the plane, approaching Reagan National Airport in Virginia, tragically split in half during the collision on Wednesday night.

Flight 5342, a regional aircraft operating under American Airlines, was navigating its route from Wichita, Kansas when it collided with the military helicopter. The crash transpired as it was nearing the runway for landing.

This tragic event unfolded around 9 PM Washington Airport time, according to information released by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Swiftly responding to the crisis, approximately 300 first responders rushed to the crash site. Divers committed extensive hours to the arduous search within the Potomac River. At the moment of the collision, the plane held 60 passengers along with four crew members, while the helicopter had three individuals onboard.

As the diligent search progresses, first responders continue to recover additional remains, having already located more than 30 people, as informed by two distinct sources.

Currently, American Airlines has expressed its foremost concern for the safety and recovery of both passengers and crew from the flight. Maintaining close communication with authorities, the airline is actively participating in ongoing emergency response and assistance efforts.