WASHINGTON D.C. - An American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided in mid-air over Washington D.C. on Thursday (Jan. 30) evening with at least 63 passengers of both aircraft still missing

The situation appeared grim as rescuers have yet to report survivors in the first major commercial airline crash in the US since 2009.

Hours after the incident, search and rescue operations recovered 30 bodies from Washington DC’s Potomac River. The rescuers lamented the “extremely rough” conditions they have been operating.

An investigation into the incident will start soon even as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy disclosed that both the military chopper and the airplane were flying in a “standard pattern.”

Among those on board the flight were were US and Russian Skaters and their coaches who participated in the US Figure Skating championship.

The AA aircraft was a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operated by the American Airlines subsidiary PSA Airliners while the chopper was a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk.

Temperatures in the area of the incident were below freezin, according to authorities.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said he had already been briefed about the accident. He also cited the emergency services crews for their “incredible work” in their rescue efforts.