An investigation is underway to establish the cause of a crash between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane after the helicopter apparently failed to respond to proximity warnings.

The crash happened near Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington DC, with all 67 onboard the two aircraft feared dead.

According to Sky News, audio shows air traffic control asking the Black Hawk crew if they have visual of the civilian aircraft and asking them to manoeuvre behind it

“PAT25 [military helicopter], do you have a CRJ [American Airlines] in sight? PAT25, pass behind the CRJ,” the controller is quoted as having said.

It appears there was no response from the Black Hawk to any of the warnings.

Video footage shows two sets of aircraft lights in the area behind the Lincoln Memorial, eventually crossing paths before an explosion is seen in mid-air.

According to flight tracking information from the passenger plane’s radio transponder, the American Airlines flight is believed to have been travelling at 140mph at 400ft when it suffered a rapid loss of altitude.

The passenger plane broke into two pieces and ended up in 7ft of water in the Potomac River, while the Black Hawk was upside down in the water.

A US official confirmed there were three soldiers on the Black Hawk helicopter, which was taking part in a training flight.

The audio was released by ATC, a site that focuses on aviation communications for more than 1,200 airports.

After the crash, an unidentified voice could be heard asking: “Did you see that?”

They then ask: “Black Jack Three, can you return to base?

“Black Jack Three, proceed directly… I need you to land.

“I need you to land immediately.”

Black Jack is the callsign for US Coastguard helicopters.

In another clip, an air traffic controller says: “Crash, crash, crash, this is an alert three.”

An alert three indicates that an aircraft has crashed on or off the airport, there is a high probability an aircraft will crash, or a pilot will have to crash land.

President Donald Trump said he had been “fully briefed on the terrible accident”.

“May God Bless their souls,” he said.

Mr Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to ask why the helicopter didn’t change course.

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport,” the post read.

“The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. 

“It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn? 

“Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane? 

“This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”

The flight had been travelling from Wichita in Kansas to Washington DC. 

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom confirmed there were four crew on board American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, along with 60 passengers.

He said it was a “difficult day for all of us at American Airlines”.

“Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, partners, first responders, along with their families and loved ones,” he said.

“Please know that we’ll continue to share accurate and timely information as soon as we can, but anything we must report must be accurate, we owe that to everyone involved.

“Our team of highly trained professionals will be working around the clock to support our passengers, crew and their families however we can and we will update you as soon as we can.”

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Though little is known about the collision, the president said it could have been prevented.