In brief
Recovery teams commenced salvage operations on the wreckage of American Airlines Flight 5342, which crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter. The effort began early Monday morning and is anticipated to last for three days.
Salvage crews initiated efforts to lift the wreckage of American Airlines Flight 5342 from the Potomac River in Washington on Monday. The operation began around 10 a.m. Eastern when a crane lifted what appeared to be one of the aircraft’s engines from the depths below. Around 8 a.m., boats and personnel began gathering along the river in preparation for the recovery work. Col. Francis Pera from the Army Corps of Engineers indicated that this salvage operation would likely reveal the remains of some missing individuals from last week's tragic collision. The plane was carrying 64 passengers, while the helicopter had three individuals aboard; none survived the incident. As of Sunday, officials reported that remains of 55 victims have been retrieved, with crews continuing their search through the murky waters. Once lifted, the aircraft wreckage will be transferred onto a flatbed trailer for inspection in a hangar, aiding the ongoing investigation into the crash. This incident marks the most severe plane crash in the United States in the past twenty years, occurring amidst clear skies as the jet approached Ronald Reagan National Airport shortly before 9 p.m. Federal investigators caution that it is premature to speculate on the crash's causes, which has ignited concerns surrounding airport staffing, congestion, and overall safety at one of the nation's busiest hubs. Claire Moses, a Times reporter based in London, specializes in the latest breaking news reporting. For more updates, stay tuned.
