DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly has expressed concern that there are likely “no survivors” from the midair collision over the Potomac River involving an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter.
“We are now transitioning from a rescue to a recovery operation. At this point, we do not believe anyone survived this midair collision accident,” Donnelly stated during a Thursday morning press briefing.
According to a CNN report, all passengers aboard both aircraft are feared dead. So far, recovery teams have retrieved the bodies of 27 passengers from the American Airlines jet and one from the helicopter.
Officials remain confident that they will recover all victims of the Wednesday night collision, which is believed to have claimed the lives of 67 people—64 from the American Airlines jet and three from the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.
“I am confident we will accomplish that, though it will take some time and possibly require additional equipment,” Donnelly said, adding that the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the next phase of the investigation.
In the aftermath of the crash, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom appeared to suggest the military helicopter was at fault. “At this time, we don’t know why the military aircraft entered the PSA aircraft’s path,” Isom stated Thursday morning.
However, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy clarified that both aircraft were following a “standard flight pattern” at the time of the collision. “It was a clear night, and the helicopter was flying along the usual route. If you’re from DC, you’re familiar with helicopters moving along the river—this was a routine flight pattern,” Duffy explained.
“We will wait for all the data, but based on what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely,” he added.
