Airlines have issued travel waivers to help passengers whose flights into and out of Washington, D.C., were affected following a deadly midair collision on Wednesday.

An aviation attorney told Fox News Digital he expects the families of the victims of Wednesday's midair collision will file lawsuits in the coming days.

Aviation experts have warned about the risk of a passenger aircraft collision for years.They cite air traffic controller shortages and airspace congestion as safety risks.Wednesday's crash is the first complete-loss US airline accident since 2009.

The married couple, won the world championships in pairs figure skating in 1994, had reportedly lived in the US since at least 1998.

Delta, United, American and Southwest generated about $8 billion in profit on $200 billion in revenue last year, but the airlines all lost money flying passengers.

Wednesday night’s crash of an American Airlines commuter plane in Washington is one of the worst disasters for the Fort Worth-based airline in more than two decades.

The search and rescue mission was transitioning to a recovery mission, and no survivors were expected, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said.

"I walk here every day. I see helicopters going around. I see planes coming in like crazy. I never thought that would happen."

A airplane and military helicopter collided in Washington, D.C., before plunging into the Potomac River. Here's who was on board, flight path and more.

An Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday evening, U.S. officials confirmed to ABC News.

All 64 people aboard an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter were feared dead in what was likely to be the worst U.S. aviation disaster in almost a quarter century, officials said Thursday.