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Recovery efforts continued Tuesday as crews retrieved parts of a regional American Airlines aircraft from the Potomac River. This operation follows a tragic midair collision over Washington, D.C., last week, which resulted in the plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter plunging into the water.
The salvage operation involved lifting pieces of wreckage with a crane and placing them onto a barge. Among the retrieved items was a part of the fuselage showing the American Eagle logo, providing a somber reminder of the flight that originated from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members to Washington’s Reagan National Airport.
Efforts commenced on Monday to recover the damaged midsection of the aircraft, along with one of its engines and a wing. Colonel Frank Pera from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expressed that their aim was to conclude the recovery of the civilian airplane in the coming 24 hours. However, officials indicated that the complete recovery process could extend over several days.
In a significant development, the D.C. fire department announced the recovery of additional human remains from the collision, which is noted as the deadliest U.S. air crash in over two decades. So far, remains of 55 of the 67 victims have been identified.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released new drone footage that captures the aftermath of the crash, showing the Black Hawk helicopter still largely intact. Investigators are meticulously examining flight data and cockpit voice recorders from both the commercial and military aircraft involved, while also gathering pertinent training and maintenance logs for further analysis.
Additionally, interviews with the five air traffic controllers on duty during the incident have been completed as part of the ongoing investigation. Questions have arisen regarding the appropriateness of having military helicopters sharing airspace with commercial flights. Billy Nolen, a former acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, articulated that such operations are commonplace and suggested a review of existing air traffic design to identify potential improvements to prevent future incidents.
As the investigation unfolds, a moment of silence was observed at ice skating rinks nationwide to honor the 67 victims, particularly acknowledging those connected to the ice skating community.
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