According to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, both the helicopter and the American Eagle flight were in a "standard flight pattern" as the latter was on final approach to DCA. The collision and crash reportedly led to the CRJ700 separating into three pieces and inverted underwater.

U.S. Figure Skating said a number of its skaters, their coaches and family members were on board the flight returning home from a training camp in Wichita, Kan. + The Skating Club of Boston has confir