So far, 28 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River, according to an emergency services official
Emergency crews have recovered 28 bodies from the near-freezing river following the collision of an American Airlines jet carrying 64 people and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers near Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, according to Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly.
The official has confirmed that emergency crews are switching from a rescue mission to a recovery operation, adding that efforts are ongoing to return the victims’ remains to their families.
“We don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident and we have recovered 28 people from the plane and one from the helicopter,” Donnelly told reporters.
First responders have been working in “extremely frigid conditions. They found heavy wind. They found ice on the water, and they’ve operated all night in those conditions,” according to Donnelly.
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