55 victims identified in Washington helicopter plane collision —official

By Reuters

Published February 3, 2025 2:24pm

Wreckage of passenger jet, Black Hawk helicopter in the Potomac River

US Coast Guard, along with other search and rescue teams, operate near debris at the crash site in the Potomac River in Washington, DC in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, US January 30, 2025. Taylor Bacon/US Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS

WASHINGTON - Officials have positively identified 55 of the 67 people killed in Wednesday's midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter over the Potomac River, Washington, DC Fire Chief John Donnelly said on Sunday.

The Army Corps of Engineers is surveying and preparing to begin significant salvage operations on Monday to remove the wreckage from the river.

Wreckage is being moved to a hangar at Washington Reagan National Airport.

Much of the Potomac River remains off limits to all vessels except authorized boats.

American Airlines earlier confirmed that 64 people were aboard the jet: 60 passengers and four crew members. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter, which was on a training flight, a US official said. —Reuters

Tags: washington plane crash, US plane crash, American Airlines, Black Hawk, Washington DC area