Officials 'don't know if there are survivors' as American Airlines flight crashes into helicopter and 'splits in half' mid-air

US officials have admitted they 'don't know' whether the devastating mid-air plane crash between an American Airlines passenger flight and a military helicopter yesterday (29 Jan) has left any survivors.

The PSA Airlines jet (AA 5432) was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport just outside of Washington DC when the collision occurred around 21:00 local time on Wednesday (29 January).

It had departed from Wichita Kansas before crashing directly into a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, which itself had departed from from Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

According to CBS, 60 passengers and four crew members were on board the AA light, with at least 19 bodies having since been recovered.

DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly told press at a conference yesterday that boats sent immediately to the scene discovered one of the aircrafts in the Potomac river.

When asked by an attending reporter whether any passengers had been found alive, he admitted it was unclear, but emphasised that first responders hadn't yet given up hope.

"We don't know if there are survivors," Donnelly said (via the BBC), adding that his team will be working with the National Transportation Safety Board to help any preserve evidence indicating what had resulted in the collision.

John Donnelly admitted his team, 'don't know' if there are any survivors (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"We will re-evaluate where we are with a rescue operation in the morning, when we get a better sense of it," he says.

Donnelly also explained that the freezing temperatures and dark conditions in the water are proving difficult for rescue teams to work in.

"There is wind. There are pieces of ice in the water... And because there is not a lot of light, you are out there searching every square inch of space," he continued. "These are very tough conditions for [rescuers] to dive in."

Departures and arrivals into the airport were subsequently halted as a result of the collision, with a team of helicopters having been dispatched to search for survivors from the sky.

In audio which has since been obtained by CBS, an airline official who witnessed the aftermath of the crash explained what he saw.

The man in question could be heard saying: "The accident happened in the river. Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river."

NBC later reported that a controller who witnessed what happened shortly after the collision later said: "It was probably out in the middle of the river. Um, I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone.

Rescue teams have been searching for survivors from boats and from the skies (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

"I haven't seen anything since they hit the river, but It was a CR-J and a helicopter that hit, I would say a half-mile of the approach."

President Donald Trump has issued a statement via White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, which said: "I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident that took place at Reagan National Airport. May God rest their souls.

"Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise."

Meanwhile, American Airlines said their 'concern is for the passengers and assisting with emergency response efforts', adding: "We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts. If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly."