Officials say the conditions of the Potomac River are complicating recovery efforts of the bodies of the 67 presumed dead in a mid-air collision between American Airlines flight 5342 from Wichita and a military Black Hawk helicopter.

Darkness has now fallen once again over the Potomac River making this already difficult recovery mission more challenging. Boats remain in the water at this hour and we're told about 50 members of the NTSB are out.

The crash and rescue on the icy river connecting Washington, DC and Virginia had similarities to this one. Five of the 79 aboard the flight survived.

This afternoon the NTSB held its first briefing on the crash saying this was a very quick and rapid impact. Since Wednesday night they have been dealing with difficult conditions. Despite that, the DC fire chief says he is confident the remains of everyone involved will be found.

Search efforts continue after an American Airlines plane from Wichita, with 64 people on board, collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., and crashed into the Potomac River.

Last year, senators from Virginia and Maryland sounded the alarm over congestion in the skies above Washington.

The plane collided with a helicopter just before it was scheduled to land. This is a developing story and will be updated.

An American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River, according to officials.

Several members of the figure skating community have spoken out after several athletes and their families were involved in a plane crash

Everly and Alydia Livingston are among the figure skaters killed when an American Airlines flight collided with a Black Hawk helicopter

There were no survivors in the accident, which happened as a regional passenger jet was attempting to land just before 9 p.m. EST Wednesday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.