The bodies of 55 out of the 67 victims from last week’s plane crash near Washington D.C. have been recovered and identified, according to the fire chief of the U.S. capital. He expressed confidence that the remaining bodies would also be found.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stated that divers and salvage workers halt debris removal each time a body is discovered, prioritizing the dignified recovery of remains. Last Wednesday, a plane operated by a subsidiary of American Airlines collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter, killing all 64 people on the plane and three military personnel in the helicopter, making it the deadliest U.S. air disaster in two decades.
The operation to remove the wreckage from the river begins today, with debris being moved to a hangar at Washington Reagan National Airport. A large section of the Potomac River remains restricted to all vessels except those with special authorization.
The circumstances of the accident are still under investigation. The helicopter’s black box was secured days after the crash, while the passenger plane’s data recorders were found on Thursday.
Post-crash discussions have focused on the helicopter’s altitude, with Flightradar24 data indicating the collision occurred at approximately 90 meters, exceeding the helicopter’s maximum allowed altitude of about 60 meters. President Trump commented on Friday that the Black Hawk was flying “much too high.” There has also been criticism regarding air traffic congestion over Washington, due to the proximity of three airports, multiple military airbases, and helicopter transport for government officials.
Source: NOS