The last major collision of a commercial U.S. airline dates back to 2009, when a Colgan Air incident left 50 dead near Buffalo, New York. Federal regulators tightened safety requirements following the crash, including bolstering aircraft carrier inspection requirements and pilot training hours.

Here's how to contact if a family member boarded the American Airlines flight which collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.

Officials said all 60 passengers aboard the plane, the four flight crew members and three soldiers in the helicopter are dead.