WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - An American Airlines

regional passenger jet was involved in a mid-air collision on

Wednesday night with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near

Reagan Washington National Airport, officials said.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on social media that "we

know there are fatalities," though he did not say how many.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said a PSA

Airlines regional jet collided midair with a Black Hawk

helicopter while on approach to Reagan. A U.S. Army official

confirmed that one of its helicopters was involved in the crash.

PSA was operating Flight 5342 for American Airlines ( AAL ), which

had departed from Wichita, Kansas, according to the FAA.

According to American Airlines' ( AAL ) website, the jet can carry up to

65 passengers.

Police said multiple agencies were involved in a search and

rescue operation in the Potomac River, which borders the

airport.

The airport said late on Wednesday that all takeoffs

and landings had been halted as emergency personnel responded to

an aircraft incident.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was

gathering more information on the incident.

There has not been a fatal U.S. passenger airplane accident

since February 2009, but a series of near-miss incidents in

recent years have raised serious safety concerns.

American Airlines ( AAL ) said on social media that it was "aware of

reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with

service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National

Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident."

American Airlines ( AAL ) said it would provide more information

as it became available to the company.