A passenger plane with 64 people aboard on Wednesday evening collided with a military helicopter above Washington and then crashed into the Potomac River. President Maia Sandu sent a message of condolence, IPN reports.

"Tragic news from Washington DC. My thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating incident. Moldova stands in solidarity with the people of the U.S. in these difficult moments," the head of state said in the message.

The international press reported, with reference to the US Federal Aviation Administration, that a Bombardier aircraft operated by PSA Airline "collided at medium altitude" with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter as the jet approached Reagan Airport, on the outskirts of Washington, for landing.

After the crash into the Potomac River, complex rescue operations were launched in difficult conditions. The U.S. authorities said a total of 67 passengers were on the American Airlines plane and the Black Hawk helicopter. According to international press reports, among the victims on the plane are Russian world champions in pairs figure skating Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who settled in the U.S. in 1998.