Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBC News

I've just arrived at the White House, where Donald Trump is expected to give a briefing at 11:00 EST (16:00 GMT).

It's already buzzing with activity as reporters scramble to get here in time for the briefing.

As I walked in and took my seat, White House staffers were adjusting the podium and checking the microphones.

The only other briefing of this presidency so far, which took place on Tuesday this week, was incredibly busy, with more than 150 journalists crammed into a relatively tight space.

By the time it started, there was standing room only in the passageways on either side of the briefing room's 30 chairs.

Today is promising to be just as busy, and reporters are already squeezing into the aisles.

Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBC News

Jasmine Boykin
Reporting from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

Hours ago, it was silent in Terminal 1 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport with even a whisper seemingly too loud.

But as the first passengers are slowly trickling in, it’s returning to its usual busy scene.

I spoke to a Washington local named Lindsay, who says she is used to seeing congestion air traffic in the area but never thought that she would see something like what took place last night.

“I see Black Hawks constantly. I see flights from Reagan constantly,” Lindsay says. “All occurring at the same time and somewhat seamlessly and fluidly, but this just stops everybody.”

She described the collision as a “freak accident” and added that when she first heard the news, that it hit her “in a tender way".

“It’s just tragic. My heart goes out to everyone involved. I can't even imagine what people are going through.”

Lindsay’s original flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was scheduled to fly out today but it was delayed for a few hours.

She says - barring any security delays - she hopes she will be on one of the first planes to take off.

Image source, Reuters

As we wait to hear from President Donald Trump - who will be addressing the nation live at 11:00 EST (16:00 GMT) - we heard earlier that he has been "fully briefed" on the DC collision.

"I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport," writes the president on Truth Social.

An American Airlines flight heading from Wichita, Kansas collided with a military helicopter around 21:00 local time last night in Washington DC near Ronald Reagan National Airport.

The reason for the collision is not yet known. Both aircraft fell into the Potomac River in the US capital, and as we've just heard from the authorities no one survived the crash.

Officials in Wichita have just finished speaking to reporters.

Mayor Lily Wu became tearful when confirming that there are no survivors from the flight, which crashed shortly before it was supposed to land in Washington DC.

Locals in Wichita who have been affected by last night's events were also offered support, although Wu told reporters that she doesn't know yet how many passengers were residents of the city.

We'll continue to unpack what the authorities are saying today in Washington DC and Wichita, so stick with us.

Congressman Ron Estes is now taking a question about the particular route the American Airlines flight was taking from Wichita, Kansas, to DC.

He confirms that it has been in use for a year, stressing that it's important for "us as a community to have connections" and direct ones to popular spots like Washington DC.

Particularly for locations like Reagan National Airport, which he highlights is situated "right there" across from the capital.

He acknowledges that landing at the airport requires skilled pilots, as there are some "twists and turns" when coming out of that airport.

But he adds: "I wouldn't hesitate to continue to fly in and out of Washington Reagan Airport, including on this particular flight and with this particular plane."

Asked who will notify the families of the victims, Estes says it will be the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, alongside American Airlines.

Romo is then asked about coordination efforts on the ground and he again stresses that American Airlines will distribute the flight manifest, a document which details who was on the plane.

Can you tell us about the figure skaters who were on this flight, one reporter asks?

Romo acknowledges that there's been several reports of figure skaters travelling onboard the flight on social media but can't confirm their identities at this time.

He is then asked whether impacted families should stay at home or get in touch with airport officials.

Romo says everyone responds to tragedy differently, and says if they are more comfortable coming to the terminal, they are ready to support them in any way they can.

• For context: US and Russian figure skaters were reportedly travelling on the American Airlines flight that crashed in DC

Image source, City of Wichita

Wichita airport director Jesse Romo is now asked about flights. One journalist questions whether everything was normal when the plane took off from Wichita. Romo responds that it was.

He's then asked whether this same flight will operate later. Romo says that he hasn't heard when Reagan Airport will reopen - though it has plans to - and advises travellers to check with American Airlines if they intend to fly.

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu is now taking questions and the first reporter asks whether or not they know how many of the passengers were Wichita residents.

Wu says they don't have that information nor the passenger manifest yet.

Wu stresses that any information for families and friends should be directed to American Airlines - and repeats that you can get that information at the helpline the company set up (1-800-679-8215).

Wichita City Council and multiple faith leaders in the city will be coming together for a community wide prayer at 12:00 local time (18:00 GMT), the mayor notes.

"At this time our community needs to come together to support the family members that have been impacted," she says, noting that additional resources have been made available for city council staff who have been impacted.

Image source, City of Wichita

Congressman Ron Estes says he has spoken to the White House about the "tragic" incident.

Wichita is a close-knit community and the incident will have consequences for years to come, he says.

He adds that the investigation will take days and weeks, but that they hope it will prevent such accidents in the future.

Image source, City of Wichita

Wichita Mayor Lily Wu is up at the podium, with a few officials alongside her.

She says that the city's hearts are heavy, and that they are still learning details about the tragedy.

She thanks the first responders who have been working through the night and becomes tearful when she confirms that her teams have been told there are no survivors.

This is a terrible tragedy that will unite the city, Wu says, adding that families of victims will be informed before their identities are released.

Shortly after reporters were addressed by officials in Washington DC, we're now hearing from Wichita authorities.

The American Airlines flight that crashed took off from Wichita, Kansas.

You can follow along by pressing watch live at the top of the page and we'll also bring you the key news lines here.

Verified audio shows moments before helicopter and plane collidedpublished at 14:01 Greenwich Mean Time 30 January

14:01 GMT 30 January

By Jake Horton, BBC Verify

We have verified two pieces of audio from the control tower overseeing air traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The timing of the audio - uploaded to a website which logs air traffic control communications - matches the timing of the collision at about 01:48 GMT (20:48 ET local time).

In one clip you hear what appears to be an air traffic controller say: “PAT 2-5 [helicopter] CRJ [passenger aircraft] in sight… PAT 2-5 responding CRJ.”

This is followed by what appears to be the helicopter pilot saying: “The aircraft is in sight, requesting visual separation.”

About 15 second later in the clip you can hear what appears to be someone in the background say “ooh”.

In a separate recording from the control tower, you can hear additional dialogue in the moments before the crash. What appears to be a flight controller says: “PAT 2-5 CRJ in sight… PAT 2-5 pass behind CRJ.”

Shortly after you hear an “ooh” – as in the first clip – and then about 12 seconds later someone says: “Tower did you see that?"

We've more now from the scene of the accident last night.

In an audio recording, air traffic controllers can be heard telling the military helicopter to avoid the commercial flight carrying 60 passengers.

As you can hear below, the control team then begins diverting flights nearby after appearing to see the helicopter and plane collide.

We heard a little earlier from local officials in Washington DC after the US suffered its first major commercial air crash in nearly 16 years.

Here's the latest information you need to know:

• No survivors are expected after an American Airlines flight collided in with a Black Hawk helicopter in Washington DC last night and crashed into the Potomac River, officials say
• The jet came from Wichita, Kansas and had 60 passengers and four crew members onboard. The military helicopter was carrying three soldiers
• Authorities say 27 bodies from the plane have been recovered so far alongside one from the helicopter
• US transport secretary Sean Duffy has told the media that he thinks the crash was preventable and that there was no breakdown in communication between the plane and helicopter
• The control tower sounded an alert at 20:48 local time (01:48 GMT), to which about 300 rescue workers responded, officials say

• Away from the press conference, rescuers are continuing to search the wreckage and have been facing "very tough conditions", with freezing, dark, and icy conditions in the water

Image source, Reuters

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Alexandria, Virginia

I'm currently in Alexandria, Virginia - just south of the airport down the Potomac River.

On a normal day, this would be a quiet place. This morning, however, is loud. Helicopters have been flying back and forth along this stretch of river, and several police patrol points are bobbing nearby.

In the distance, I can see at least a dozen sets of red and blue police lights flickering closer to the sight of the crash.

Jonathan Josephs
BBC business reporter

It’s likely this crash will renew questions about safety in the US aviation industry.

Last year the US government approved 10 new flight slots for Reagan National Airport despite opposition from some local politicians over congestion concerns after some near misses.

Reports of the conversations between air traffic controllers and the aircraft suggest that the controllers were alert to the dangers as this accident was unfolding.

Nonetheless there has been a shortage of air traffic controllers in the US in recent years and last year Congress authorised the regulator, the FAA, to recruit more.

That comes after the FAA said it hired the most in nearly a decade last year to address a shortage of around 3,000 personnel.

It’s an issue that the boss of United Airlines, Scott Kirby, told NPR last month was “the biggest opportunity to make air travel better for customers in the United States” by reducing delays.

Image source, Getty Images

After fielding questions from the press, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser brings the press conference at Washington National Airport to a close.

We're expecting to hear another statement to the press from authorities in Wichita, Kansas - where the commercial flight departed from - at 08:00 local time; that's in about 45 minutes.

We'll bring you updates when we have them, but in the meantime, stick with us and we'll bring you some analysis on what we've just heard.

The transport secretary then answers questions about the pilots, saying both were experienced.

The helicopter's mission was classed as a "training mission", which he says could lead people to think someone inexperienced is in the cockpit, but he says not to "read into that".

Duffy also says he will wait for all the information to come through but he thinks the incident was preventable.

He also confirms that President Donald Trump will be in the Situation Room this morning and has been kept in "full appraisal" of what's taking place.