(NewsNation) — Following a plane crash in Washington, D.C., last week, divers and salvage workers recovered the fuselage and are working to identify the remaining bodies from the Potomac River.
In a Monday afternoon briefing, authorities said they had successfully removed the fuselage and a wing from the water. Crews had to stop work multiple times during the process as human remains were found.
The mid-air collision between a passenger plane and an Army helicopter left 67 people dead. Authorities have identified 55 of the people who have been killed so far.
As of Monday morning, there were 12 victims still left in the river, though officials have said they are confident they will be able to recover remains from all those who were killed in the crash.
Salvage crews lifted the fuselage of the plane out of the water, which is where they believe the remaining 12 victims are located. Divers had not been able to recover the bodies with the wreckage still in the water.
During the Monday briefing, officials confirmed additional remains had been recovered but said the number of positively identified victims remained at 55.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing, with many questions remaining about the cause of the crash, including why helicopters were allowed to fly in the same space where planes were landing.
The FAA has put a no-fly zone around the Reagan National Airport, but it’s not clear how long it will last.
Data from the crash shows conflicting altitude readings regarding how high the helicopter was flying. Information from the black box shows the Black Hawk helicopter at 325 feet, while readings from the control tower showed 200 feet.
When asked, authorities urged media and the public not to speculate on why the helicopter may have flown above 200 feet, noting that there are many reasons a pilot could divert from altitude, including avoiding hazards.
The pilots of the helicopter did have night vision goggles, but it’s not clear if they were wearing them at the time of the crash.