An American Airlines plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter outside Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. Wednesday night. A D.C. fire official said Thursday that “we don't think there are any survivors from this accident" and "we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.

A desperate search is underway for survivors after the American Airlines plane crashed into the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport.

When aircraft volume goes down, a supervisor can make the decision to combine two controller positions into one position, which happens routinely, according to a source with direct knowledge.