Divers and recovery teams work tirelessly as they retrieve wreckage from a recent plane crash involving an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter, revealing the grim toll of a double tragedy.**
Recovery Operations Underway After D.C. Plane Crash**
Recovery Operations Underway After D.C. Plane Crash**
Salvage crews begin the delicate process of lifting wreckage and recovering bodies from the Potomac River following a tragic midair collision.**
Recovery efforts intensified on Monday as salvage crews commenced the arduous task of extracting wreckage from the Potomac River, following a devastating collision that claimed the lives of all those onboard an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army helicopter. The significant operation, expected to last three days, saw the emergence of debris as a crane began its work at approximately 10 a.m. Eastern.
Witnesses reported boats and crew members converging along the river since dawn, with Col. Francis Pera of the Army Corps of Engineers indicating that recovering the wreckage might lead to locating some of the victims still unaccounted for following the incident. Last Wednesday’s catastrophic crash involved 64 passengers aboard the plane and three on the helicopter, with 55 bodies already retrieved as the search continues in the cold waters.
After the wreckage is lifted, it will be transported to a hangar for forensic analysis as part of investigation procedures aimed at uncovering the root causes of the crash. The tragedy unfolded under clear skies while the jet was approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport just before 9 p.m., a scene that has reignited discussions about air traffic control and safety procedures at one of the busiest aviation hubs in the country.
Federal regulators have noted that it is premature to draw conclusions regarding the incident. As recovery crews brave the murky depths, they navigate both the physical challenges of the search and the emotional toll of the tragedy that has struck so many.
