The fatal midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter followed a string of near misses at airports over the last several years.

In the first 24 hours, we usually know very little, and often what we think we know turns out to be false in the days and weeks to follow,” William J. McGee, senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project,

An American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter collided over Washington, D.C., Wednesday night. All 67 people aboard the aircraft are presumed dead.