A deadly midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter near the nation's capital is bringing renewed focus on the federal agency charged with investigating aviation disasters.

Sixty-seven people are believed to have died after a passenger plane hit a military helicopter in mid-air near Washington DC's Ronald Reagan airport on Wednesday evening.

American figure skater Jon Maravilla told Russian media that he was barred from the American Airlines flight that collided with an Army helicopter.

A U.S. skater is setting the record straight after it was falsely reported that he was supposed to be on the American Airlines flight that crashed in Washington D.C. Wednesday night. Initial reports claimed Jon Maravilla missed the tragic flight after he was denied boarding because of his dog.