Remains of all 67 victims of midair collision near DC pulled from Potomac River
The remains of all 67 victims of last week's midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter have been pulled from the Potomac River, authorities announced Tuesday.
A total of 60 passengers and four crew members were on board American Eagle Flight 5342, while three soldiers from Fort Belvoir were aboard the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, when the two aircraft collided and plunged into the icy waters near Reagan National Airport on Jan. 30.
No one survived the crash.
On Tuesday, officials with the D.C. Fire and EMS Department released a statement confirming the recovery of all the victims, calling it a 'significant step in bringing closure to the families and the community.'
The remains of 66 of the victims had been positively identified as of Tuesday afternoon. The D.C. medical examiner was still working to identify one set of remains.
'Our hearts are with the victims' families as they navigate this tragic loss,' officials said. 'We extend our deepest condolences and remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time.'
Tuesday's announcement came as crews continued to remove wreckage from the bottom of the river, including 'major components' of the Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-700 series twin-engine jet.
Large lifts continued the operation through Tuesday evening, with unloading expected for Wednesday morning, depending on environmental and tidal conditions, authorities said. Recovery operations will then shift to pulling the Black Hawk helicopter from the Potomac River.
Among the victims of the crash were several young figure skaters returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas. They were traveling with their coaches and parents.
Two pilots and two flight attendants were killed on board Flight 5342. The victims also included a group of hunters returning from a guided trip in Kansas, four members of a steamfitters' local union in suburban Maryland and nine students and parents from Fairfax County, Virginia.
On board the Black Hawk were Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hara. The helicopter was on a classified training mission when it collided with the American Airlines jet.
Federal investigators are still trying to piece together the events that led to the fatal collision. While full investigations typically take a year or more, officials said they hope to have a preliminary report within 30 days.
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