WASHINGTON (7News) — After an American Airlines small eagle plane coming from Wichita, Kansas collided with a military helicopter midair before crashing into the Potomac River near D.C.'s Reagan National Airport (DCA) Wednesday night, 7News First Alert Weather Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson breaks down the challenges crews may face as they go into the chilly waters to recover bodies and the rubble.

During their initial rescue efforts, first responders found extremely frigid conditions, heavy wind and ice on the water. SkyTrak7 was over the scene at 4:30 a.m. Thursday as crews worked through the wreckage.

As of Thursday morning, officials said at least 27 bodies were recovered from the Potomac River.

"At this point, we don't believe there are any survivors from this accident," said the D.C. fire chief. "We have recovered 27 people from the plane, from the helicopter. The District Office of Medical Examiner has been on reuniting these bodies with their loved ones, and we will continue to work and reunite them."

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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.

It takes less than three minutes for the human body to start losing dexterity, with no protection of clothing. This means the human body's limbs could start to slow down and body movement. In this case, the human body could start losing unconsciousness in a span of 15 to 30 minutes.

Officials said at least 300 emergency responders from across the region, including local, multi-state, and federal agencies joined in the search and rescue efforts.

What We Know About The Crash:

The American Airlines passenger jet coming from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, federal officials said. Three Army personnel were onboard the military helicopter, according to the U.S. Army.

The crash happened just before 9 p.m., according to D.C. police and fire officials, when the regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to the runway.

Thursday morning, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said the American Airlines flight was descending in a standard flight pattern as it was coming into DCA.

“At 8:53 p.m., multiple calls were received for an aircraft crash above the Potomac River,” D.C. officials said Wednesday. “D.C. Fire and EMS, the Metropolitan Police Department, and multiple partner agencies are currently coordinating a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River.”

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U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said the plane was found upside down.

According to CNN, Joint Task Force-National Capital Region Media Chief Heather Chairez confirmed the 12 Aviation Battalion crew, based out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was on a training flight.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash.

Recovery Efforts Forecast

Thursday will see similar conditions to Wednesday except calmer winds and slightly cooler temperatures. Partly cloudy skies will aid in recovery efforts, but water temperatures will remain in the lower to mid-30s.

Our next weather maker will arrive Thursday night and bring widespread rains beginning around midnight.

Plan for scattered showers for most of Friday with locally heavy rain possible before tapering off by 9 p.m. Friday. Rainfall amounts will range from around 1/2 to 1 inch, with higher amounts south of Interstate 66.

Low tide Thursday will occur at 3:24 p.m. and high tide will happen at 8:43 p.m.