took an unexpected turn when broadcater Stephen Dixon was forced to halt the breakfast show to deliver some devastating breaking news.

During Thursday's visit (January 30) to the London studios, the 50-year-old broadcaster returned to the helm on the morning show alongside his co-star Ellie Costello.

The dynamic duo discussed some of the biggest stories hitting the headlines including the news that Rachel Reeves' has backed Heathrow's third runway in an effort to push growth and water bills set to rise by £123 a year in April.

But the programme came to a dramatic halt when the dad-of-one revealed that a passenger plane carrying 64 passengers and crew had crashed into a river in Washington DC after it collided mid-air with a US Army helicopter.

Eighteen bodies have been pulled frm the Potomac River so far,where the search and rescue teams continue to explore the waters in freezing temperatures, according to the BBC's broadcast partner, CBS.

US authorities are investigating and the nearby Ronald Washington National Airport has grounded all flights. At atound 9pm local time (2an GMT), a PSA Airlines jet op0erating as American Airlines 5342 collided with a US Army helicopter as it approached Ronald Regan Washington National Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The passenger plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, departed from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew, according to American Airlines. The Pentagon said her helicopter involved was a Siorsky H-60 that took off from Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

Three US soldiers were on board the Army aircraft, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bower said. The FAA said it would investigate the incident, together with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Early reports on US media said the passenger plane could be seen split in half on the Potomac River, while the helicopter was upside down in the water. About 300 responders on rubber boaats have been deployed to search for survivors.

Stephen interrupted this earlier segment as he told listeners: "This is a hugely difficult situation and has had a federal response to this as well which is hugely important."

The presnters welcomed US broadcaster Steve Gill onto the show via video link as he discussed the latest updates from the devastating crash.

He began: "I've flown in and out of Regan airport many, many times and it is in close proximity to obvious to the capital. I was there just a week ago for the inauguration and I will tell you, it was brutally cold.

"They're dealing in dark conditions I think because it was mentioned that the weather was about 42 degrees outside and in the waters it was about 37 degrees and about to freeze over.

"Apparently a military helicopter carrying three military personelle collided with this American Airlines flight carrying 60 passengers, four crew in mid-air as the pilots were being instructed, 'Can you see the approaching aircraft?'

"Earlier reports say they may have been looking at another aircraft rather than the one that was literally above them, they could not see them and as the two collided, there's some videos of literally a fireball in the sky."

Ellie added: "And the conditions that these rescuers are working in as we just heard Steve, are incredibly complex and they are extremely rough."

Steve continued: "Yes, it is dark and it is windy which makes it very difficult. About a half mile away from the airport, this was in the process of the plane landing at Regan, it was in its descent and the helicopter, apparently the training mission it was on only had three military personelle on it in a black hawk helicopter.

"Normally would carry a full contingent of soldiers or military personelle but in this case there weer only three, apparently on that particular flight because they were on a training mission."

Stephen added: "The president seems to be pointing fingers at air traffic control at Regan. Do we know if what's behind that?" as Steve explained: "Yes, there were instructions coming from air traffic controllers that have already been revealed trying to give instructions to the helicopter.

"There was one warning that there was a flighe descending and that they needed to get visual confirmation. The second warning to the helicopter came literally before the collision.

"I think it's too early to determine exactly what happened or who's at fault here, at this point it's just a horrific tragedy. Regan is an extremely busy airport.

"I mean you've got all the millitary flights, the fact that it is the nation's capital when security is at a high. It was extremely high at the end of the inauguration with both the helicopter and drone coverage and again, and the number of flights that are coming in and out.

"This one was about 8.45pm local time when the collision occured so again, that's still a very busy time at this airport as you head into the night."

President Donald Trump said he has been fully briefed on the "terrible accident" and that he was monitoring the situation closely. He told Americans in a statement: "May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders."

On his TruthSocial social media account, he also raised questions about how the incident could have happened. He posted: "This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!!"

GB News' breakfast show airs every day live on their website from 6am.