Authorities have recovered and positively identified 55 of the 67 victims from Wednesday’s devastating midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. The tragedy, which has halted operations at nearby Washington Reagan National Airport and restricted access to the river, remains under intensive investigation.

Ongoing Recovery Efforts

Fire Chief John Donnelly expressed confidence that all victims would be accounted for. “It’s my belief that we’re going to recover everyone,” he stated at a Sunday press conference. However, he acknowledged that salvage operations would take time, particularly as officials prioritize the retrieval of human remains.

American Airlines

A person on a boat looks at wreckage that remains in the Potomac River, near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., February 2, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

According to Reuters, starting Monday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin lifting wreckage from the river, a process that could extend for over a week. “We have a wide debris field,” said Colonel Francis Pera, explaining that different techniques are being used to map out the crash site. Work will be temporarily suspended whenever remains are discovered during the salvage operation.

Victims’ Families Visit Crash Site

On Sunday morning, grieving relatives of the 67 victims were transported by bus to the riverbank near the crash site. The visit was organized to allow families to pay their respects as the search continues.

Meanwhile, wreckage from the collision is being moved to a hangar at Washington Reagan National Airport, where investigators will examine the remains of both aircraft. Two of the airport’s lesser-used runways remain closed due to ongoing recovery efforts.

American Airlines

A card says “In memory of Sasha Kirsanov,” a victim of the American Eagle flight 5342 plane crash, at a memorial at Fred Rust Ice Arena in Newark, Delaware, U.S. February 2, 2025. REUTERS/Rachel Wisniewski

New Investigation Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released new details on Saturday, revealing that the CRJ-700 passenger jet was flying at an altitude of 325 feet (99 meters) at the moment of impact—well below the typical approach altitude. Data suggests that the Army helicopter was flying above 200 feet (61 meters), exceeding the approved altitude for its designated route.

Additionally, air traffic control alerted the helicopter to the presence of the jet two minutes before the crash, according to flight data. One second before impact, the cockpit voice recorder captured a verbal reaction from the American flight crew, and data indicated the plane’s nose began to rise—possibly an attempt to avoid the collision.