Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul / Yonhap

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul expressed his deep sorrow Thursday after a U.S. jet carrying 64 people collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington.

"We're deeply saddened by the tragic accident at Reagan National Airport. Our hearts go out to everyone immediately impacted as we pray for some good news," Cho wrote in English on his account on X.

A regional jet collided with a military helicopter as it was nearing the runway at around 9 p.m. Wednesday (local time), prompting a major search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The exact number of casualties remains unknown.

The Seoul government is working to obtain a passenger list, though it is not immediately clear whether any Korean nationals were aboard the aircraft. (Yonhap)