Summary

  • Investigators have recovered the flight data recorders, also known as black boxes, from the deadly plane crash in Washington DC, the BBC's US news partner CBS reports

  • The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says a preliminary report on the crash - in which a commercial airplane and a military helicopter collided over the Potomac River - will be issued in 30 days

  • NTSB officials also said they "have a lot of information but... need some time to verify that"

  • President Donald Trump earlier offered his condolences, saying "our hearts are shattered" by the incident on Wednesday night

  • No one is believed to have survived, officials say - 64 people were on the American Airlines flight and three on the helicopter

  • Trump blamed diversity rules under his predecessors, saying he believes people hired for air traffic control roles were not always qualified - but offered no evidence for this

  • In an audio clip, air traffic controllers can be heard asking the helicopter's crew if they can see the plane

Media caption,

Inside DC airport as plane crash recovery work continues

  1. American Airlines jet collides with helicopter in Washington DCpublished at 03:03 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January

    An American Airlines flight has collided in mid-air with a helicopter in Washington DC, the Federal Aviation Administration says.

    It happened while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9pm local time, it adds in a statement. Authorities are investigating.

    Stay with us for more updates.