The White House says a passenger jet collided midair with a military helicopter near Reagan national airport outside Washington, DC.

    Police said multiple agencies are involved in a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River, which borders the airport, but there was no immediate word on casualties.

    The plane was arriving in Washington, DC, from Wichita, Kansas.

    Ronald Reagan national airport has halted all takeoffs and landings following the collision.

    Audio shows no response from helicopter after air traffic control warning: Report

    Less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asks the helicopter if it has the arriving plane in sight: “PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?”

    The controller makes another radio call to PAT25 moments later: ” PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.”

    The two aircraft collide seconds later, the Associated Press news agency reports.

    The audio from flight tracking sites doesn’t record any response from the helicopter, if any, to the warnings from air traffic control regarding the arriving plane.

    The plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet (730 metres ) short of the runway, roughly over the middle of the river.

    Kansas Senator says plane crash ‘nothing short of a nightmare’

    US Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas has shared a brief statement on X describing the “devastating news” as “what can only be described as nothing short of a nightmare”.

    “A plane, traveling to the Nation’s capital from Wichita, KS carrying roughly 60 passengers collided with a Military helicopter,” Marshall said.

    “I ask the world to join me in praying for Kansas this evening, the first responders, rescue crews, and all those involved in this horrific accident.”

    Three US army soldiers were on helicopter: report

    Three US Army soldiers were onboard a BlackHawk helicopter that collided with a passenger jet over the Potomac river, an unnamed US official has told the Reuters news agency.

    The AFP news agency also confirmed the report.

    Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official said the status of the soldiers was unknown, but added that no senior officials were on the helicopter.

    Another official said the Army UH-60 helicopter involved in the crash was based out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Reuters reported.