Midair collision over Washington D.C.: Dozens feared dead including army personnel

AirlineRatings CEO Sharon Petersen said, "Airlines are equipped with Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) and in some cases significantly more advanced tools compared to helicopters. In areas where helicopters and airlines operate in close proximity, it is the responsibility of helicopters to avoid the flight paths of airlines, not the other way around. Based on the information available at this time, it appears the incident may have been caused by the helicopter. As such, we will not be lowering the safety rating of American Airlines at this stage."

Witnesses to the mid-air collision have shared their accounts with NBC.

Ari Schulman said he saw a "stream of sparks" that resembled "a giant roman candle".

He told NBC Washington that he was driving on George Washington Parkway, which runs along the airport when he spotted the plane landing.

"Everything looked normal," he said. "It was level; nothing was wrong."

Schulman described how moments later things took a dramatic turn:

"The plane looked like it had banked hard to right maybe 90 degrees," he said. "I could see underside... illuminated bright yellow and there was stream sparks underneath it... like giant roman candle. "

Schulman did not hear any explosion or see any immediate proof of a crash but noticed first responders swarming as he drove through area.

The crash has prompted closure Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Flights destined for Reagan National are being diverted Dulles International Airport about 28 miles away while Washington DC metro system remains open late running extra trains transport disembarking passengers into city according transport authority's general manager.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched investigation NTSB taking lead Officials confirmed collision happened within one nation’s most sensitive complex air corridors zone near high-security landmarks White House U.S Capitol Pentagon Weather conditions clear visibility reported ten miles however conditions around river close freezing Crash reignited concerns safety Reagan National experienced string close calls past year involving commercial private aircraft Officials lawmakers previously warned airport heavy traffic operational constraints could lead catastrophic incidents FAA NTSB expected release further updates investigation unfolds We continue update more information comes