A huge search and rescue effort was launched on the icy Potomac River following a midair crash close to Reagan National Airport.The terrifying moments leading up to, during, and following the accident are captured in recently made public air traffic control audio, There were confirmed fatalities from the incident, which sent the American Airlines plane plummeting into the icy Potomac River,

but no survivors had been found as of the time of reporting.As first responders to the disaster site put in endless hours, authorities suspended all airport operations until at least 11 a.m. ET on Thursday.With 60 passengers and four crew members, American Airlines Flight 5342, run by PSA Airlines, had taken off from Wichita, Kansas.When the crash happened, the Black Hawk chopper carrying three soldiers was engaged in a training mission. The helicopter was discovered close by, and aviation and defense officials said that the plane was in parts in the ocean.which provides important new information about the terrible event.Near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger flight collided in midair, sparking a search and rescue effort.