Hundreds of responders have removed at least 28 bodies from the icy waters of the Potomac River after a deadly plane crash, according to officials as of Thursday morning.

One onlooker said that he initially “didn’t think much of it” and thought the collision resembled “shooting stars.”

Through maps, videos, photos and radio transmissions, CNN is piecing together what occurred during the deadly, midair collision.

An American Airlines flight collided with a helicopter in midair as it approached DCA on Wednesday, the FAA said.

An Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday evening, U.S. officials confirmed to ABC News.

DC Fire and EMS say, on Wednesday night a small plane went down near the airport landing in the Potomac River. FAA is saying a military helicopter collided with American Airlines flight 5342 Wednesday, around 9 p.m. as it was landing at DCA. DC Police have confirmed that it was not one of their helicopters involved in the crash.

Wednesday night’s crash of an American Airlines commuter plane in Washington could be one of the worst disasters for the Fort Worth-based airline in more than two decades.

Multiple 911 callers reported the crash near the river just before 8:55 p.m., according to the Metropolitan Police Department and the District of Columbia Fire and EMS.

American Airlines CEO expressed 'sorrow' over fatal crash in Washington DC on January 30. A small aircraft crashed in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport late Wednesday, and fire boats were on the scene,

The plane collided with a helicopter just before it was scheduled to land. This is a developing story and will be updated.

The science behind the temperatures? Water transfers heat away from the body 25 times faster than air, according to Johnson. On Wednesday night, the Potomac River water temperature, specifically the body of water around Hanes Point and Reagan National Airport, was 35 degrees Fahrenheit.