18 bodies recovered from Potomac River after Washington plane crash

At least 18 bodies were recovered Wednesday night as the search for survivors in the midair collision involving an American Airlines jet and a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter continued, CBS News reported.

A passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair Wednesday and crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C.

The plane, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, CBS News learned. There were three soldiers aboard the Sikorsky H-60, a Defense Department official told CBS News.

The midair collision happened as the passenger aircraft was approaching a runway at Reagan National Airport. The plane had taken off from Wichita, Kansas.

CBS cited an official as saying that at least 18 bodies had been recovered from the river, which contained three debris fields. The official said no survivors had been found so far.

A police official said that police boats and divers were searching the water for survivors.