Passenger plane and Army helicopter collide and crash in Washington DC

An American Airlines flight carrying scores of people crashed with a military helicopter as it neared Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport.

According to police, the jet then plunged into the Potomac River, where boats and divers are seeking for survivors.

The Bombardier CRJ700 regional plane, which was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided with the helicopter as it approached the runway at 21:00 EST (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

According to the airline, the flight originated in Wichita, Kansas.

According to US media sources, the downed jet has split in half in the Potomac River, and boats and divers are currently seeking for survivors.

Three US army personnel were aboard the Black Hawk military chopper that crashed with the plane, according to a defense official.

The helicopter had taken off from Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

“All takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA. Emergency personnel are responding to an aircraft incident on the airfield. The terminal remains open,” Reagan National Airport said on social media.

The Federal Aviation Administration stated that it is initiating an inquiry.