No survivors are expected after a passenger aircraft collided midair with an United States military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River near the Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night, Reuters reported.

Twenty-seven bodies were recovered from the plane and one from the helicopter, the city’s fire and emergency medical services chief John A Donnelly said on Thursday morning. “We don’t believe there are any survivors,” Donnelly added.

The incident occurred at around 8.47 pm local time, reported The Washington Post.

While there were 60 passengers and four crew onboard the passenger aircraft, the Black Hawk helicopter was carrying three Army personnel.

Search and rescue operations have been underway in the river.

Officials had not announced the scale of casualties immediately after the incident on Wednesday night. “All we can confirm tonight is the number of people on each aircraft,” Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser had said.

The American Airlines flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, was travelling from Wichita, Kansas and collided with the military helicopter on a training flight as it approached the runway.

The commercial aircraft and the military helicopter had taken a “standard flight pattern”, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said Thursday morning.

“We are cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation and will continue to provide all the information we can,” Reuters quoted American Airlines CEO Robert Isom as saying.

The airport was to remain closed till 5 am on Friday, reported the Associated Press.

US President Donald Trump stated that he has been “fully briefed on the terrible accident”.

“May God bless their souls,” he added. “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.”