The deadliest plane crash in U.S. history was in May 1979, when American Airlines Flight 191 lost an engine during takeoff at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and crashed moments later, killing 258 passengers and 13 crew. Two people on the ground also were killed.

Rescue craft are in the Potomac River below the site of the collision with D.C. fire chief John Donnelly saying "we don't know" if there are any survivors.

The American Airlines passenger jet collided with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River near Washington D.C. late on Wednesday night

All of the "major" pieces of wreckage from the collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 have been cleared from the Potomac River, officials said.

All major pieces of the American Airlines plane and Black Hawk helicopter that collided last week in Washington, DC, have been recovered, the National Transportation Safety Board announced Saturday.