Crews have begun the painstaking process of retrieving wreckage, including aircraft parts, from the Potomac River, following last week's tragic crash involving American Airlines Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army helicopter, which left no survivors.
Salvage Operation Underway for D.C. Plane Crash Victims
Salvage Operation Underway for D.C. Plane Crash Victims
Recovery teams are working to lift wreckage from the Potomac River following the American Airlines and Army helicopter collision.
On Monday morning, salvage crews initiated the recovery operation, with a crane on a barge lifting the first pieces of wreckage from the water, including what appeared to be an engine from the American Airlines jet. The complex operation is expected to span three days as teams work tirelessly to recover more debris and potentially locate the remaining victims.
Col. Francis Pera of the Army Corps of Engineers indicated that search efforts commenced around 8 a.m. on the river, following the deadly collision that occurred on Wednesday night. The incident resulted in the loss of 64 lives on the commercial flight and three on the military helicopter, with officials reporting that 55 victims' remains have already been recovered from the cold, murky waters.
Following the lifts, the wreckage will be transported to a hangar for detailed examination as part of the ongoing crash investigation. The event marks the most significant aviation disaster in the U.S. in the past 20 years, occurring under clear skies as the jet was approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport.
Authorities have not yet released any findings regarding the crash's causes, although there are growing concerns over staffing and safety procedures at one of the nation’s busiest air travel hubs. Claire Moses, a Times reporter with a focus on breaking news, continues to follow this developing story closely, as recovery operations aim to bring closure to the victims' families.
