In a tragic incident that has shaken the nation, the remains of all 67 victims of last week's catastrophic plane crash in Washington, D.C. have been recovered, according to an announcement made by authorities on Tuesday.
The victims, who met their untimely end when a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Eagle Flight 5342, have all been identified, with the exception of one.
"This marks a significant step in bringing closure to the families and the community," read a statement from the operations Unified Command, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the painstaking efforts undertaken by the authorities. The task of identifying the final victim now rests with the Washington, D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
As reported by The Independent, the ill-fated plane, carrying 64 passengers, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, when it descended into a fatal collision with the military helicopter around 9 p.m. at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. The helicopter was manned by three soldiers. The crash, which left no survivors, is the deadliest American aviation disaster in 16 years, underscoring the severity of the incident.
The recovery operation has been extensive, with investigators recovering significant parts of the aircraft, including the aft fuselage, right engine, and right pylon. The focus now shifts to clearing the remainder of the wreckage from the Potomac River, the site of the crash. Salvage operations continue, with a commitment to the dignified recovery of any additional remains, authorities said.
In a significant development on Tuesday, investigators recovered the airplanes right wing, center fuselage, part of the left wing and left fuselage, significant portions of the forward cabin and cockpit, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, tail cone, rudder, elevators, TCAS computer, and quick access recorder. The public has been urged to report any parts of the plane or belongings washed up on Potomac or Anacostia River shorelines, emphasizing the importance of these items in supporting impacted families and the ongoing investigation.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving are working together to hoist major components of the regional jet from the water. Once this is complete, efforts will shift to recovering additional wreckage from the Black Hawk helicopter.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the lead investigative agency, is working to determine the cause of the accident. A preliminary report is due 30 days from the date of the incident. While the cause of the incident remains largely unknown, investigators believe the helicopter was flying at 300 feet, 100 feet higher than its allowed altitude.
The collision occurred between 300 to 350 feet. The NTSB said it needed additional information from the helicopter to verify data points. Officials expect to pull the Sikorsky UH-60 Military Helicopter from the water this week.
In the aftermath of the crash, the US Department of Transportation has imposed significant restrictions on helicopters flying along Route 4, a route typically flown by Black Hawks as commercial jets fly above them.
The victims of the crash included several members of figure skating communities near Washington, D.C. and Boston, Massachusetts, many of whom were children and their parents returning from the National Development Camp in Wichita. Other victims belonged to the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters in Maryland.
The process of identifying the victims was delayed as some of their next of kin reside overseas. Families had been asked to come to the airport to identify their loved ones remains, a poignant reminder of the personal tragedies intertwined with this national disaster.
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