Bodies of All 67 D.C. Plane Crash Victims Have Been Recovered: Authorities

Mar. 15, 2025

A crane pulls up a portion of the tail during recovery efforts after the American Airlines crash on February 04, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.Photo:Kayla Bartkowski/Getty

Kayla Bartkowski/Getty

The bodies of all 67 victims of themidair crashbetween an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington, D.C., have been recovered, authorities announced.

“At this time, 66 of the remains have been positively identified,” the agency added. “This marks a significant step in bringing closure to the families and the community.”

Officials noted that the D.C. Medical Examiner is continuing “its work to ensure the dignified identification of remains and support the families through this process.”

People Magazine’s Feb. 17 cover.

As their efforts continue, authorities remain focused onclearing the debris from the Potomac River, which is expected to take several days. “Large lifts will continue through Tuesday evening, with unloading expected when environmental and tidal conditions allow on Wednesday, February 5,” the agency wrote

“While all victims have been identified, salvage operations will continue with a strict commitment to the dignified recovery of any additional remains,” officials said.

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The deadly crashclaimed the lives of 11 child and teen figure skatersalong with seven friendsreturning from a pheasant-hunting trip, a 12-year-old girlwho had survived cancerand a college student who had justattended her grandfather’s funeral.

It is also thenation’s deadliest air crashsince November 2001.

Investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Army are also seeking to uncover the cause of the crash.

“This is an all-hands-on-deck event,” NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy previously reporters of the quest for answers. “We’re here to assure the American people that we are going to leave no stone unturned in this investigation.”

Investigators hope to release a preliminary report on what caused the collision within 30 days, though a final report could take up to a year or more.

source: people.com