In the case of Wednesday’s midair collision over the Potomac River in Washington, DC, officials have confirmed the identities of 55 out of the 67 victims killed when an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter crashed.
Families of the victims of the deadliest US air disaster since 2001 gathered at the crash site on Sunday as divers searched the submerged wreckage for more remains.
Washington, DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly expressed confidence that all victims would be found, as reported by Associated Press.
Divers are working diligently to recover remains before crews begin lifting the wreckage from the frigid Potomac River, which could happen as early as Monday morning. Col Francis B Pera of the Army Corps of Engineers emphasised that recovering victims with dignity remains the top priority, with salvage efforts pausing immediately if human remains are discovered.
Advanced high-definition cameras are being used to monitor the wreckage in real-time, allowing multiple experts to observe the search. Due to the harsh conditions, one diver was treated for hypothermia, Donnelly was quoted as saying by AP.
The crash occurred Wednesday night near Reagan Washington National Airport when an American Airlines jet carrying 64 people collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter conducting a training mission. The jet was approaching landing when the collision happened, and there were no survivors.
Portions of both aircraft will be transported to a hangar for further investigation, while federal officials continue working to determine the cause of the disaster.
