American Airlines plane, Army helicopter collide outside Reagan National Airport near Washington DC

Click here to follow the latest updates following the deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport.

American Airline flights from Wichita to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. are scheduled to resume Friday, two days after a deadly midair collision near the airport.

Fox News' Mark Meredith reports there have been dozens of cancellations but with minimal delays.

Weather forecasts in the area were showing a 100% chance of rain with wind gusts as high as 25 mph.

Meanwhile, there were reports of debris floating to areas along the Potomac River, the site of Wednesday evening’s deadly collision. Local governments have been urging residents not to touch or remove any of the found items. 

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said late Thursday that Wednesday’s deadly midair collision was “not what I expected” on his first day on the job.

“This is not what I expected my first day on the job to be, but I do believe that God puts us exactly where we’re supposed to be,” Duffy said, pledging to the families of the victims “get to the bottom of what happened and be 100% transparent about the results of the investigation.”

Duffy, who is expected to visit the FAA command center and recovery hangar today, promised to “fix” the agency.

I will continue to keep the families and the public up-to-date with what we are doing in this situation and every other situation that falls under [the Department of Transportation],” Duffy said.

Emotions were running high at The Skating Club of Boston Thursday after six people with ties to the organization died in a plane crash near Reagan International Airport Wednesday night.

Among those who spoke were Olympic silver medalist Nancy Kerrigan, who couldn’t hold back tears while talking about the crash.

President Donald Trump said there were no survivors after an American Airlines jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.The plane was carrying 64 people, among them teenage skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their mothers Jin Han and Christine Lane and their coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

Three members of The Skating Club of Boston — Misha Mitrofanov, Jimmy Ma and Alisa Efimova — also spoke of their peers, who they say were the next generation of hopeful U.S. Olympians.

"The potential that they showed on the ice and the capabilities they had at such a young age showed that they had promise for the future of this sport," Mitrofanov, whose partner is Efimova, told reporters Thursday.

This is an excerpt of a story by Fox News Digital's Scott Thompson Click here to read more.

A Philippines police officer was reportedly among the dozens of people on board an American Airlines plane when it collided with an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. late Wednesday evening.

Speaking to The Associated Press, the Philippine police confirmed the police officer’s identity as Col. Pergentino Malabed Jr.

Malabed headed the supply management division of the national police and had traveled to the U.S. to inspect equipment the Philippines was planning to purchase for its 232,000-member force, the Philippine police said.

“His untimely passing is a profound loss to the Philippine National Police, where he served with honor, with integrity and dedication throughout his career,” police spokesperson Col. Randulf Tuaño said in a statement.

In a statement Friday, the Chinese embassy in the U.S. said two Chinese nationals were among the victims of a midair collision near Reagan National Airport.

They went on to express their deep condolences to all victims and say they will provide consular protection and assistance.

“The Chinese Embassy extends deepest condolences to all the victims and sympathies to the bereaved families,” an embassy statement said. It did not offer further details on the victims.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker slammed President Donald Trump late Thursday, following the deadly collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter.

In a statement, the Democratic governor said Trump was “unfit to lead during moments of crisis like this.”

“Before victims have even been identified, Trump is blaming people with disabilities,” Pritzker wrote. “He’s blaming the U.S. service members in the Blackhawk helicopter. He’s blaming hiring programs he can’t even name or offer examples of. The buck stops with him – yet he is failing to demonstrate his role as protector of the American people and head of our government.”

A professor from Howard University was among the 67 people on board an American Airlines flight that collided with an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport late Wednesday.

Howard University President Ben Vinson III announced the passing of Professor Kiah Duggins in a post on X late Thursday.

“It is with profound sadness that the Howard University community and the Howard University School of Law have learned of the passing of Professor Kiah Duggins, who was among those lost in the mid-air plane collision at Reagan National Airport,” Vinson wrote. “We ask for privacy and respect for Professor Duggins' family, students, and colleagues during this difficult time.”

The Black Hawk helicopter involved in Wednesday's deadly midair collision was possibly flying higher than approved and outside of its flight path, according to media reports.

The aircraft was supposed to be flying lower and in a different location while in the airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the New York Times reported, citing four people briefed on the matter.

Helicopter pilots must get approval from an air traffic controller before entering busy commercial airspace. On Wednesday, the pilot of the Black Hawk asked for permission to use a specific route that lets helicopters fly no higher than 200 feet and near the bank on the east side of the Potomac River, which would have let it avoid the American Airlines plane, the report said.

However the aircraft didn't follow the intended route. Instead, it flew above 300 feet and was at least a half-mile off the approved route when it collided with the airplane jet.

One of the U.S. Army pilots killed when their Black Hawk helicopter collided with an airplane has been identified.

The wife of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, of Mississippi, confirmed his death on social media.

"I am sure by now all of you have heard the news of the tragedy that has occurred in DC," she wrote on Facebook. "My husband was one of the pilots in the Blackhawk. We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today. We ask for peace while we grieve."

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said the state was mourning the loss of Eaves.

"Mississippi is mourning the loss of Brooksville native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, who was killed in last night’s accident at Reagan National Airport," Reeves wrote on X. "Elee and I are praying for the victims’ families and first responders who are assisting."

Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said "our hearts go out" to people on the American Airlines flight involved in Wednesday night’s midair collision with a helicopter in the nation’s capital. 

The chief executive of the Dallas-based carrier took a moment to "acknowledge the tragic accident near Reagan DCA Airport last night" before he and other Southwest executives launched into a discussion of the airline’s fourth-quarter financial results on Thursday with analysts and investors.

"Our hearts go out to all those loved ones who are among the passengers and the crew, and we also extend our sympathies to our friends at American Airlines and their subsidiary PSA Airlines as they process this event themselves," Jordan said, adding that he wanted to "thank the first responders who worked tirelessly throughout the night."

"And while we are all competitors, we are one airline community, and we will do everything we can to support our friends at American and at PSA," he continued.

Airlines issued travel fee waivers for passengers after a deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C., temporarily halted operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. 

United Airlines said Thursday that it issued a waiver for travelers who are booked on flights heading to or leaving from the Arlington, Virginia, airport. Passengers who have flights through Saturday will be able to reschedule their trip without getting hit with change fees and fare differences, according to United.

Delta also issued a travel waiver for people traveling on Thursday to and from Reagan National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

United CEO Scott Kirby issued a statement Thursday about the collision, saying the airline is in touch with its "colleagues at American Airlines and will continue to offer any assistance and support they may need."

Recovery efforts a day after the deadly midair collision remain ongoing and divers have searched all accessible areas, authorities said Thursday.

The Washington D.C. Fire and EMS Department said drivers will work Friday with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) "to locate aircraft components, to support the investigation, and begin operations to salvage the aircraft" in the Potomac River.

"Overnight, boats will remain on scene for security and surface searches from local, state, and federal regional partners," the agency wrote on X.

One of the black boxes, or data recorders, has reportedly been retrieved from American Eagle flight 5342, which burst into a ball of flame after colliding with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, according to federal legislators.

Fox has learned that Congressional members demanding answers about the collision said the box had been recovered from the CRJ-700, however the NTSB says it is way too soon to jump to conclusions.

The night before American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night, a jet that tried to land at the same airport had to circle around and make another approach after a helicopter approached its flight path, according to reports.

The Washington Post reported that an audio recording from air traffic control captured the encounter, and ultimately, Republic Airways Flight 4514 landed safely, flight tracking software shows.

The Embraer E-175 was cleared to land at the airport’s Runway 19 and advised about a helicopter in its vicinity. It executed a go-around maneuver after its automated collision avoidance system ordered what's known as a ‘resolution advisory’ to avoid nearby traffic.

That put the aircraft out of proper alignment for landing, but was able to land safely several minutes later, The Associated Press reported.

The military helicopter was advised of the plane, which was flying around flew roughly 1,000 feet above the helicopter, according to flight tracking sites cited by the AP.

As to Wednesday’s crash, officials said they believe there are no survivors.

Responders continue to sort through the wreckage in search of remains. In total, there were 67 people on board the helicopter and airliner, combined.

Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom on Thursday said the company was focused on being there for the families impacted by Wednesday's deadly midair collision.

"The entire strength of the airline is focused on taking care of the families and loved ones for those who are on this flight," he said in a video message.

The airline has activated its care team, and were ready to provide services in Washington D.C. and Wichita, Kansas, he said.

Anyone concerned about a loved one who may have been on American flight 5342 is asked to call 1-800-679-8215.

U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said the activity level at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport could possibly be re-evaluated.

"Whenever I'm at Reagan and I see new gates being built," Cramer told Fox News. "The terminal getting larger, realizing that there will never be another inch of runway, and that the skies are pretty congested."

Cramer added that he often thinks there's too much activity for such a small plot of land.

"I'm sure there'll be a reevaluation of all of that," he said.

The top Republican on the House Transportation Committee’s subcommittee on aviation is calling for a congressional hearing into the deadly collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C.

"We say we are the gold standard, we just need to continue to maintain that level," Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, who chairs the subcommittee, told Fox News Digital in an interview.

"I just want to sit down with all of them and, when the [National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) does its report – make sure that it’s very accurate, it’s factual, and that they come up with some recommendations – and then we’ll have to see if we need to change direction or change course based upon those recommendations. But we don’t know yet."

Nehls praised Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves, noting his background as a pilot, and said he would be asking the Missouri Republican to convene meetings with the affected parties and those investigating the incident. Nehls suggested potential closed-door meetings to enable more candid discussions but said a public hearing would also be in order.

"We have to find out the reason for the crash and then come up with, you know, recommendations to make sure it doesn’t happen again," he said. "We don’t need to be sitting on this. I don’t want to hear, ‘It’s going to take 18 months.’ I don’t want to hear that."

And it appears federal investigators are on that same page.

NTSB officials said they hope to have a preliminary report out in about 30 days.

An aviation attorney predicted that the victims' families would file a lawsuit against the U.S. government and American Airlines in the coming days after a regional jet carrying 64 people collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter.

James Brauchle, an aviation attorney, told Fox News Digital that it is typically difficult for people to wrap their minds around aviation disasters “because they're just not supposed to happen.”

“Airline aircraft travel is extremely safe," he said. “And we haven't had a commercial accident in the U.S. involving a U.S. carrier, since Feb. 2009 in Buffalo, New York."

“It's been 14 years without incident,” he said. “And so when these kinds of things happen, it's really hard for people to wrap their minds around what happened. And the biggest thing that's going through people's minds right now is why? Why did this happen?”

Brauchle said that following the initial shock, the victims' families look to hold stakeholders accountable.

“I can't think of a commercial aircraft accident in the United States that didn't result in litigation,” he said. “So I'm going to assume that that's going to happen. And that's usually done, obviously, through the filing of a lawsuit.”

“Based on what we know right now and basing this on past experiences, the potential parties are the airlines and the U.S. government.”