It appears that the first major air disaster in the U.S. since 2009 has occurred while the Federal Aviation Administration does not have a permanent leader.

President Donald Trump has begun his second administration with a series of controversial moves and decisions.

Mr Trump suggested efforts to boost diversity at the FAA could have been a cause of the crash between a passenger jet and a military helicopter. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Officials believe there are no survivors after a passenger plane on approach to Reagan National Airport near Washington, DC, collided Wednesday night with a US Army helicopter midair, sending both aircraft into the Potomac River below,

An American Airlines flight from Wichita to Washington, D.C. was involved in a crash near Reagan Airport Wednesday night.

Several members' of the U.S. Figure Skating team were onboard the American Airlines plane that collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopter over Washington, D.C., the governing body said in a statement.

Before the additional flights were approved, a senator warned that the increase could heighten the risk of collisions.

An American Airlines plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter outside Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. Wednesday evening. Three soldiers were onboard the helicopter and a massive search and rescue operation is now unfolding in the Potomac River.

Trump said he didn't know what caused the crash, but said "we have some very strong opinions and ideas."

Ari Schulman told NBC Washington that he saw the plane crash while driving on the George Washington Parkway, which runs along the airport. He said the plane's approach looked normal, until he saw the aircraft bank hard to the right, with "streams of sparks" running underneath, illuminating its belly.