All 67 victims have now been recovered after Wednesday’s midair aircraft collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and PSA Airlines CRJ-700 jet over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
According to a Tuesday afternoon post on social media by the D.C. Fire and EMS Department, 66 of the remains have been positively identified. A plethora of military and federal rescue agencies have been retrieving bodies from the river for nearly a week now.
“The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner continues its work to ensure the dignified identification of remains and support the families through this process,” the post stated. “Our hearts are with the victims’ families as they navigate this tragic loss. We extend our deepest condolences and remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time.”
The post stated that while all victims have been identified, salvage operations will continue for any additional remains. After Wednesday, operations will shift to recovering wreckage from the crashed Black Hawk helicopter.
On Monday evening, President Donald Trump spoke with American Airlines CEO Robert Isom and said he was committed to increasing aviation safety, according to a report by CNN. Trump has said DEI hiring practices were to blame for the crash that killed 64 civilians and three Army servicemembers.
