Rescue teams have successfully recovered all 67 bodies from the Potomac River following a tragic collision between two aircraft last week. The incident which took place over the river near Washington D.C involved a Bombardier CRJ700 jet operating as American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter on a training mission.
Crews worked tirelessly to remove the wreckage which included the plane’s fuselage with a portion clearly showing cabin windows. Later the jet’s tail marked with red white and blue colors was lifted from the water. Authorities expect to retrieve the cockpit section once weather conditions allow.
Out of the 67 victims 66 have already been identified. Investigators have been working to determine the cause of the deadly crash and the wreckage remains crucial to their ongoing inquiry.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been examining the flight data from the helicopter’s recorder but its investigation is still in its early stages. No public briefing has been held as additional information is required for verification.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom confirmed a phone conversation with former President Donald Trump in which Trump expressed his condolences for the victims. A moment of silence will be held by the airline to honor the victims as the first anniversary of the collision approaches.
Recovery teams continue to work in challenging conditions including freezing temperatures and inclement weather. The process has been slow with divers utilizing specialized tools to cut through the wreckage.
NTSB officials have stated that the primary focus is to retrieve the airplane wreckage first followed by the helicopter’s remains. Recovery efforts are expected to continue despite the tough weather conditions.
The NTSB’s preliminary findings suggest that there was a slight change in pitch in the American Airlines jet just before the collision. Investigators are also focusing on radar data that shows discrepancies in the altitude of the Black Hawk helicopter which was supposed to be at or below 200 feet.
Further investigation is underway to reconcile the discrepancies between radar data and the flight data from both aircraft. Although the NTSB has not yet released a full report it plans to publish preliminary findings within the next month.
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