DC plane crash: Additional remains recovered from crash site

(NewsNation) — Recovery crews and divers searched the Potomac River for remains and cleared wreckage Sunday from the collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and military helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

On Wednesday night, an American Airlines jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members when it crashed with a military helicopter carrying three soldiers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

All 67 people on the plane and military helicopter are presumed dead.

A black box belonging to the Black Hawk helicopter was recovered Friday, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services confirmed 55 of the victims have been positively identified as of Sunday and recovered from the crash site, including all three soldiers who were on the Army Black Hawk helicopter.

The helicopter on Friday “was briefly stabilized with a crane to assist in recovery efforts” but was not able to be removed from the water, the Washington Fire and EMS Department said in a Saturday statement.

David Hoagland, president of D.C. Firefighters Association IAFF Local 36, said in an interview with NewsNation Saturday that first responders are dealing with icy conditions, but the lack of vegetation gives them more visibility than they would have had in summer.

“They’re continuing to search for who they can, but it’s at the point now where, when this heavy equipment gets here, I think they’ll be able to make a lot more progress and hopefully bring some resolution here soon,” Hoagland said.

NOW PLAYING

Investigators recover black boxes from plane in DC crash

The National Transportation Safety Board is examining the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recovered Thursday from the passenger jet.

Investigators will zero in on how the plane experienced a rapid loss of altitude on its approach over the Potomac.

Initial data from the plane showed it was at an altitude of 325 feet, plus or minus 25 feet, when the crash happened, NTSB member Todd Inman said. However, the air traffic controller’s tower cab data screen showed an altitude of 200 feet, he told reporters at a news conference Saturday.

Inman said more information is needed to determine the cause of this discrepancy.

Pilots on the Black Hawk had night vision goggles, Inman said, but it is unclear whether they wore them and what setting the device was on.

Five people were working in the air traffic control tower when the crash happened, Inman said. Interviews with them are ongoing and should be done by Monday, Inman said, adding that everyone has been fully cooperative.

“This is a controller’s worst nightmare,” Inman stressed to reporters. “It hits everyone that works in that cab and knows them very hard.”

Officials said earlier this week that their investigation “will take some time” but they intend to have a preliminary report on the crash within 30 days.

Jennifer Homendy, board chair, said while it is an “all hands on deck event,” they will allow first responders to complete their “important safety mission.”

To determine the cause of the crash, Homendy said the NTSB will look at several factors, including “human, machine and the environment.”

DC plane crash: What we know so far

The midair crash occurred shortly before 9 p.m. local time Wednesday, shutting down the airport until 11 a.m. Thursday.

Part of the investigation will revolve around an interaction with air traffic control in the final moments before the collision.

According to investigators, the plane was cleared to land at a shorter runway just minutes before at Reagan National. The pilots acknowledged the change as well. Air traffic control also asked the helicopter if it could see the plane and if it could pass behind it, but, seconds later, the crash occurred.

The FAA said the plane was a Bombardier CRJ700 arriving from Wichita, Kansas. A U.S. Army official said the helicopter was a UH-60 Black Hawk based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation, said both pilots were experienced and had flown the specific route before. The pilot-in-command had 1,000 flying hours, and their co-pilot had just under 500.

Who are the victims of the DC plane crash?

The victims include figure skaters and coaches, as well as members of the D.C. branch of the Steamfitters union.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.

United Association Steamfitters said four members were on board the American Airlines flight.

“May they rest in peace,” UA Local 602, based in Prince George’s County, Maryland, said on X.

One of the crew members killed in the crash was First Officer Sam Lilley, his father Tim Lilley, confirmed to NewsNation.

Two Chinese nationals were also among the victims of the crash, according to the Chinese Embassy in the U.S.

The U.S. Army confirmed the identity of two of the soldiers on the helicopter on Friday afternoon, and released the name of the third on Saturday with her family’s permission.

They are: Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves and Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach.

Here are the victims we know so far: