All 67 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River following a tragic midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The crash occurred on Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The collision claimed the lives of all 64 passengers on the plane and three soldiers aboard the helicopter.
The Unified Command announced on Tuesday that 66 of the victims have been positively identified. Recovery crews are still working to clear the wreckage from the river, including large pieces of the jet. Operations will soon focus on recovering the remains of the Black Hawk helicopter.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom shared that President Donald Trump called to express his condolences and emphasized aviation safety as a priority for his administration. The airline plans to observe a moment of silence on Wednesday, marking one week since the crash.
Among the victims was Ian Epstein, a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 5342. Epstein’s body was honored with a water cannon salute as it was returned to Charlotte, North Carolina. Bob and Lori Schrock, farmers from Kiowa, Kansas, also perished in the crash. They were traveling to Pennsylvania to visit their daughter in college. A memorial service for the couple is scheduled for this weekend.
The recovery efforts continue as authorities work to clear the remaining wreckage from the river.
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