A major salvage operation began Monday, lifting wreckage from a deadly incident that claimed the lives of 67 people.
Salvage Operations Underway Following D.C. Jet Crash
Salvage Operations Underway Following D.C. Jet Crash
Teams recover wreckage from the Potomac River after a tragic collision involving an American Airlines flight and a military helicopter.
A crane commenced salvage operations early Monday morning to recover wreckage from the American Airlines Flight 5342 that crashed into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., last week after colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter. The operation, anticipated to span three days, aims to recover the remains of victims still unaccounted for.
By 10 a.m. Eastern, a crane, positioned on a barge, successfully lifted what appeared to be one of the plane's engines from the depths of the river. Crews had been mobilizing since 8 a.m. under the supervision of Col. Francis Pera from the Army Corps of Engineers, who indicated that the salvage efforts would lead to the recovery of more bodies following the catastrophic crash, which remains under intense scrutiny.
In total, there were 64 passengers on the American Airlines flight, alongside three crew members aboard the military helicopter—all of whom perished in the accident. As of Sunday, authorities reported the remains of 55 victims had been recovered from the river's cold and murky waters. The ongoing recovery is compounded by the tragic impact of the incident, marking it as one of the most catastrophic aviation accidents in the U.S. in the last twenty years. The flight was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport when the unfortunate collision occurred around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
While federal investigators are currently gathering data, they have stated it is premature to determine the causes of the crash. The incident has raised alarm regarding air traffic management at one of the nation’s busiest airports, given issues surrounding safety, staffing, and congestion.
By 10 a.m. Eastern, a crane, positioned on a barge, successfully lifted what appeared to be one of the plane's engines from the depths of the river. Crews had been mobilizing since 8 a.m. under the supervision of Col. Francis Pera from the Army Corps of Engineers, who indicated that the salvage efforts would lead to the recovery of more bodies following the catastrophic crash, which remains under intense scrutiny.
In total, there were 64 passengers on the American Airlines flight, alongside three crew members aboard the military helicopter—all of whom perished in the accident. As of Sunday, authorities reported the remains of 55 victims had been recovered from the river's cold and murky waters. The ongoing recovery is compounded by the tragic impact of the incident, marking it as one of the most catastrophic aviation accidents in the U.S. in the last twenty years. The flight was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport when the unfortunate collision occurred around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
While federal investigators are currently gathering data, they have stated it is premature to determine the causes of the crash. The incident has raised alarm regarding air traffic management at one of the nation’s busiest airports, given issues surrounding safety, staffing, and congestion.
