DC plane crash: Photos capture ongoing recovery efforts as officials say no survivors are expected

WASHINGTON - Photos of a devastating plane crash in Washington, D.C., capture the extensive recovery efforts underway after a small American Airlines aircraft collided with a U.S. Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night.

The images show emergency crews wading through the Potomac River, using boats, search lights, and specialized equipment as they comb through the wreckage in search of victims.

What initially began as a rescue operation has now shifted to a full-scale recovery mission, as authorities have stated they do not expect to find any survivors.

DC plane crash

The backstory:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the midair collision occurred around 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday when American Airlines flight 5342, arriving from Wichita, Kansas, struck the military Blackhawk helicopter while approaching the airport runway. 

The jet, a Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine aircraft, was at an altitude of approximately 400 feet and traveling at about 140 miles per hour when it suddenly lost altitude over the Potomac River. American Airlines confirmed that 60 passengers and four crew members were on the aircraft, while three soldiers are believed to have been on the helicopter – which was on a training mission. 

Emergency responders, including DC Fire and EMS, the Metropolitan Police Department, and multiple federal agencies, are coordinating recovery efforts in the river.

What we know:

Authorities reported Thursday that at least 28 bodies have been recovered from the icy waters of the Potomac River.

Officials stated that the search for additional casualties is ongoing, but they do not anticipate finding any more survivors. 

This incident, if confirmed, would mark the deadliest air crash in the United States in nearly 24 years.

The plane's body was discovered upside down and broken into three sections in waist-deep water, while the wreckage of the helicopter was also located.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of Wednesday's collision, but all takeoffs and landings at Ronald Reagan National Airport were suspended until at least 11 a.m. 

Dive teams searched the site, while law enforcement helicopters from across the region conducted a search for bodies.

What we don't know:

The exact cause of the crash is also being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. The victims names have also not been released. 

Who are the victims?

What we know:

Authorities say there were 60 passengers and four crew members on the American Airlines flight and three soldiers on the helicopter.

The victims have not been identified by a coroner. However, U.S. Figure Skating confirmed several members were aboard the American Airlines flight.

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