DC plane crash latest updates: Crews work to find remaining victims as investigators recover black boxes
Crews are continuing their efforts to recover the remaining victims from the Potomac River after an American Airlines jet collided with the U.S. military helicopter in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night, killing 67 people.
As of Friday morning, 41 bodies have been recovered, officials said. A civil rights attorney, teenage ice skating stars, their parents, and a soon-to-be-married pilot are among those killed in the crash.
Investigators are also working to piece together what led up to the deadly collision.
Both black boxes have been recovered from the American Airlines plane. The plane's cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder have been taken for lab analysis, the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday night. The information on the black boxes could shed light on the final moments of the ill-fated flight.
While the cause of the fatal collision is still under investigation, a report revealed that an air traffic controller was given the job of two people after one worker clocked off early, according to a report.
Airplane and helicopter traffic is normally handled by two separate controllers until 9:30 p.m., but a supervisor allegedly merged the two jobs before the allotted changeover time, a source told The New York Times. A preliminary Federal Aviation Administration report concluded that staffing levels were 'not normal' at the time.
Teenage crash victim shared dream of skating for Team USA in heartbreaking interview
A teenage figure skater who died in the American Airlines plane crash shared her dreams of representing Team USA in heartbreaking footage taken before her death.
Tributes have poured in for 14-year-old Everly Livingston and her 11-year-old sister, Alydia, who died when American Airlines Flight 5342 and a US military helicopter collided in a huge fireball before plunging into the icy-cold Potomac River near Reagan airport.
In resurfaced footage from last year, Everly, who was then 13, told Fox5 DC about her dreams of representing the USA internationally in the future.
Alex Croft has the story.
Teen Washington crash victim shared dream of skating for Team USA in tragic interview
Everly and Alydia Livingston were well-known in the figure skating community before their death in the Washington D.C. plane crash on Wednesday
Kelly Rissman31 January 2025 18:15
Federal workers urged to find 'higher productivity' jobs
FAA employees received an email late Thursday — just one day after the fatal collision — from the Office of Personnel Management encouraging them to seek 'higher productivity' jobs in the private sector.
'We encourage you to find a job in the private sector as soon as you would like to do so,' read the email, which was reviewed by The New York Times. 'The way to greater American prosperity is encouraging people to move from lower productivity jobs in the public sector to higher productivity jobs in the private sector.'
Federal employees at other agencies also received the email, the outlet reported. But the message likely hit the FAA particularly hard, as the agency is already under scrutiny for its staffing during the incident.
An air traffic controller was given the job of two people after one worker clocked off early on Wednesday evening, the night of the crash.
Kelly Rissman31 January 2025 18:00
In photos: Memorials are being set up across the country to mourn plane crash victims
Kelly Rissman31 January 2025 17:45
Trump won't visit Washington DC plane crash site because it's 'the water'
Donald Trump responded sarcastically to questions about whether he would be visiting the site of the deadly crash over the Potomac River in Washington D.C., asking reporters at the White House: 'You want me to go swimming?'
The president said on Thursday he would be meeting with some of the families of victims of the tragedy, which occurred at Ronald Reagan Airport Wednesday night. All 67 people involved in the crash are presumed dead, authorities said previously.
When asked about his plans to visit the crash site, he replied: 'I have a plan to visit, not the site. Because you tell me, what's the site? The water? You want me to go swimming?'
Mike Bedigan has the story.
Trump won't visit Washington DC plane crash site because it's 'the water'
The president said on Thursday he would be meeting with some of the families of victims of the tragedy, but did not specify when
Kelly Rissman31 January 2025 17:30
Tracked: American Airlines plane collides with US Army helicopter near DC airport
Kelly Rissman31 January 2025 17:19
Kansas biology teacher among the victims
Lindsey Fields, a Kansas biology professor, lost her life in the fatal collision, according to the National Association of Biology Teachers.
'Lindsey was traveling to represent the NABT community and advocate for excellence in life science education. This is a tremendous loss. Please keep Lindsey, the other victims, and their families in your hearts. We also ask that you respect the privacy of her loved ones at this time.'
Butler Community College also shared a statement with the Butler County Times Gazette: 'With broken hearts we send our condolences to her family and friends, and the students, faculty and staff whom we know without a doubt were positively impacted by Lindsey's energy and dedication to her craft.'
'Lindsey was a colleague, friend, and educator who dedicated her wisdom and talents to changing students' lives every day. We owe her much gratitude for sharing her light with us and we will forever feel this loss. We send much love and support to her family and friends during this most difficult time,' the statement read.
Kelly Rissman31 January 2025 17:15
WATCH: Moment air traffic control gasps as American Airlines plane and US military chopper collide
Kelly Rissman31 January 2025 17:00
Speaking on Fox News Friday morning, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he believed there was a staffing shortage among air traffic controllers at the time of the collision, but the investigation will reveal more.
He then echoed Trump's finger-pointing at the FAA's DEI policies.
'The environment around which we choose pilots and air traffic controllers, as the president pointed out correctly yesterday, better be the highest possible standard. The best of the best,' he said.
'I don't care what background they come from, what their race is, what their gender is, if they're rich or they're poor. I just need them to be good at their job because I need my flight to land safely,' Hegseth continued.
According to data reviewed by Axios, most air traffic controllers and airfield operations specialists were white men.
Here's the full clip:
Kelly Rissman31 January 2025 16:45
Former FAA air traffic manager defends controllers after Trump's DEI digs
The air traffic control profession is a 'meritocracy,' Michael McCormick, a former FAA air traffic manager, told CNN Friday.
'Only the best can go through the rigorous selection program, the screening program and then one-to-five-year training program prior to receiving their certification,' he said.
McCormick defended air traffic controllers after President Donald Trump linked the federal agency's DEI policies to the collision.
Kelly Rissman31 January 2025 16:40
In photos: Wreckage along the Potomac, days after tragedy
Kelly Rissman31 January 2025 16:30
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