Recovery teams have embarked on salvaging the wreckage of American Airlines Flight 5342, which crashed into the Potomac River after an unfortunate collision with a U.S. Army helicopter. The operation commenced on Monday morning, with a crane lifting the first piece of debris, identified as one of the engines, out of the frigid waters. A fleet of boats and personnel was mobilized around 8 a.m., while Col. Francis Pera of the Army Corps of Engineers disclosed on Sunday that the salvage efforts could help recover bodies of some victims still unaccounted for after the incident.
The ill-fated flight carried 64 passengers, alongside three crew members from the helicopter, none of whom survived the crash. As of Sunday afternoon, authorities have successfully located and retrieved the remains of 55 victims; however, a diligent search persists in the murky depths for additional bodies. Once lifted from the river, the wreckage will be transported to a secure facility for meticulous examination as part of the ongoing investigation into this catastrophic event—the gravest plane crash in the U.S. in two decades.
The collision occurred on Wednesday night under clear skies as the aircraft approached Ronald Reagan National Airport. At this point, federal investigators have stated it is premature to ascertain the crash's causes, sparking heightened scrutiny regarding staffing and safety protocols at one of the busiest airports in the country. The investigation will undoubtedly delve into the issues of air traffic management and emergency preparedness in light of this tragic incident.
