The plane departed from Wichita, Kansas. Figure skaters and coaches returning from the national championships were aboard the American Airlines flight that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday,

The plane, American Eagle flight 5342 with 60 passengers and 4 crew on board, had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, and was approaching for landing when it collided with an Army helicopter mid air. The helicopter was on a training flight with a crew of three, based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia,

Officials say more than 60 people were aboard the plane when it and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided over the Potomac River late Wednesday night.

Officials hold press conference at Reagan Washington National Airport after American Airlines plane 'split in half' in Washington DC on collision with Black Hawk helicopter on training flight.