Tuesday, 18 Mar 2025

Officials confirm all 67 victims in DC midair crash recovered from Potomac River

Officials confirmed Tuesday that all 67 victims in the DC midair crash have been recovered from the Potomac River, with 66 bodies positively identified.


Officials confirm all 67 victims in DC midair crash recovered from Potomac River
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The identification, officials added, marks a significant step in bringing closure to the families and the community.

Of the 67 victims recovered, 60 were passengers on American Airlines flight 5342, four were crew members on the flight, and three were on the Black Hawk helicopter.

The plane's flight data recorder indicated that it was struck at 325 feet by the helicopter on Wednesday night, and that prior to impact, there was a change in the aircraft's pitch, according to preliminary information released on Saturday.

"Currently, the CRJ (plane) based on the data recorder at the time of impact was 325 feet, plus or minus 25 feet," National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Todd Inman said at a Saturday news conference. "And for those who follow this closely, that is a corrected altitude."

"I can tell you at one point, very close to the impact, there was a slight change in pitch, an increase in pitch," he added later, when asked whether the plane pulled up.

While air traffic control data had the plane's altitude at 200 feet at impact, Inman said they "have not finalized that and need to get more granularity to it," and that data from the Black Hawk's recorder is also needed to answer for the apparent 100-foot difference in altitude.

Military and other government helicopters fly this route almost daily, according to a senior Army pilot and warrant officer.

Fox News Digital's Brie Stimson contributed to this report.

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