All 67 bodies from the tragic collision between a Bombardier CRJ-700 passenger plane operated by American Eagle Airlines and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter have now been recovered, officials confirmed Tuesday. The incident, which occurred near Washington over the Potomac River, marks the deadliest U.S. air disaster in 20 years.
Search Operations and Wreckage Recovery
Government agencies involved in the recovery described the completion of the search for remains as a “significant step” toward providing closure to the families of the victims. Crews continue to retrieve pieces of the wreckage, including the fuselage, wings, and rudder of the passenger plane. Recovery of the helicopter will begin once work on the plane is complete.
The passenger plane was en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington when the collision occurred. All 60 passengers, four crew members, and three soldiers aboard the helicopter perished in the crash. There were no survivors.
Investigation and Speculations
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation and is expected to release a preliminary report within 30 days. However, the full investigation may take up to a year.
President Donald Trump, in a controversial statement, blamed diversity hiring policies for the accident, despite no evidence supporting such claims. He also suggested that the helicopter might have been flying too high during its routine training mission.
Reports indicate that the control tower at Ronald Reagan National Airport may have been understaffed at the time of the collision, though this has yet to be confirmed.
The tragedy has sparked discussions about air traffic control staffing and aviation safety protocols as the investigation continues. Authorities have assured ongoing support for the families of the victims during this difficult time.