Officials have confirmed that all passengers and crew aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 and an Army Black Hawk helicopter were killed after the two aircraft collided mid-air Wednesday evening near Reagan National Airport.
“At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident,” DC Fire Chief John Donnelly said Thursday at a news conference.
Rescue teams have so far recovered 27 bodies from the plane and one from the helicopter, he added.
The PSA Airlines-operated American Eagle flight, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, was en route from Wichita to National Airport when it collided with the military helicopter, which was on a training flight with three service members on board.
Authorities have now shifted from search-and-rescue efforts to recovery operations as they work to account for all victims and investigate the cause of the collision.
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