An American Airlines Group Inc (NASDAQ:AAL) regional jet that was carrying 60 passengers crashed in mid-air with a Black Hawk military helicopter near Washington DC.
The crash happened just as the Bombardier commercial jetliner was around 300 feet in the air, coming in to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Three soldiers were aboard the US Army helicopter, an official said, with military officials confirming that it was participating in a training flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration said a flight under the American Eagle brand was on approach into the airport’s runway 33 when it collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter at around 9pm Eastern Time.
Senator Ted Cruz said: "While we don’t yet know how many on board were lost, we know there are fatalities."
A military official told NBC that it was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir.
American Airlines said in a statement: "Our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts."
The reaction from financial markets was that shares in American fell 3.5% to $16.72 in afterhours trading.