Remains of all 67 victims of Washington DC plane crash recovered
All but one of the victims have been identified and crews have recovered a number of large pieces of the jet from the river. It is hoped work to recover the helicopter wreckage will start on Wednesday.
Wednesday 5 February 2025 11:00, UK
The remains of all 67 victims of the Washington DC plane crash have been recovered, US authorities have said.
The involving an American Airlines flight and an army helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport was the deadliest US aviation incident in almost 25 years.
Officials said all but one of the victims of the 29 January crash above the Potomac River have been positively identified.
It came as it was confirmed crews working in difficult conditions had recovered a number of large pieces of the jet from the river.
It is hoped work to recover the helicopter wreckage will start on Wednesday.
"Our hearts are with the victims' families as they navigate this tragic loss," officials said in a joint statement from the city and federal agencies involved in the search and recovery.
The chief medical examiner will be working to positively identify the final set of remains, officials said.
Updated data shows the Black Hawk helicopter was flying at 300ft on the air traffic control display at the time of the collision.
The data indicates the military helicopter was above 200ft, which officials said is the maximum permitted altitude for the route it was using.
Investigators earlier revealed the plane, which was about to land, was at 325ft, plus or minus 25ft, at the time of impact.
Sixty passengers and four crew were on the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas.
The Black Hawk, carrying three soldiers, was on a training mission.
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In the aftermath of the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration has imposed significant restrictions on helicopter flights around Reagan National Airport and two of its runways remain closed.
Full federal investigations normally take a year or more, but it is hoped a preliminary report into the crash will be completed within 30 days.