A near collision between three aircraft near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is being investigated by US air safety officials.

Two regional jets took off as an incoming flight was coming towards them without enough separation, according to reports.

It is thought that bad weather and a switch of the landing runway resulted in a miscommunication between air traffic controllers and pilots.

The carriers involved were for US Airways Express and included Chautauqua Airlines 3071, Republic Airlines 3467, and Republic Airlines 3329.

Transportation stressed that the DOT and the FAA were investigating the incident and that a “well-trained controller at DCA immediately recognised the situation and worked quickly to fix it”.