The Army helicopter and regional American Eagle jet that collided over Washington are both workhorse aircraft that operate around the world on a daily basis.

It was a sunny January afternoon in 2009 when the Airbus A320 landed in the Hudson River. All 150 passengers and five crew members were safely rescued from the icy waters.

Rescue craft are in the Potomac River below the site of the collision with D.C. fire chief John Donnelly saying "we don't know" if there are any survivors.