Authorities have recovered 41 bodies after an aircraft crash in Washington DC.

Sixty-seven individuals were eliminated when an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter clashed mid-air on Wednesday night. Up until now, 28 bodies have actually been determined.

Both airplane crashed into the Potomac River after the accident. Some 300 personnel were sent to the scene, however the rescue quickly developed into a healing mission as authorities said there were no survivors.

Washington crash: Follow the most recent updates

Federal detectives have recovered the black boxes from the guest jet, while authorities were still browsing for similar gadgets in the helicopter.

Meanwhile, employment amidst concerns over how well the airport's control tower was staffed on the night of the crash, it's been verified that an air traffic control service manager had actually let a controller leave their shift early.

The detail, initially reported by the New York Times, has been validated to Sky News' US partner NBC News by a source familiar with the investigation.

More on Washington Crash

-.
Captain Rebecca Lobach: Third helicopter pilot who died in Washington crash was former White House aide

-.
Washington DC crash: Data from plane's black boxes gives clashing information on altitudes - as images of 3rd soldier with Joe Biden and Ralph Lauren emerge

-.
Black Hawk helicopter was on emergency evacuation trial run before Washington DC crash, authorities state

Related Topics:

Washington crash.


Please use Chrome internet browser for a more accessible video player

It implies a single controller was managing both airplane and helicopter traffic in the area when the two airplane clashed.

It is allowed - however not optimum - for one controller to do both jobs, NBC News reported.

The American Airlines jet was carrying 60 guests and 4 team when it crashed with the Black Hawk helicopter, carrying 3 soldiers, soon before 9pm regional time on Wednesday.

Flight 5342 was preparing to arrive on runway 33 at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided with the helicopter in one of the most tightly managed airspaces in the world.

'Em ergency vehicles sped past me'

A guy whose spouse was on the flight has actually recalled how he saw emergency services "speeding past" as he was waiting at the airport to choose her up.

Hamaad Raza told NBC News his partner of two years, Asra, had "texted me [and] stated, 'We're landing in 20 minutes'".

" I was waiting and I began seeing a lot of EMS lorries speeding past me ... way too numerous, [more] than normal and my texts weren't going through."

Trump makes unverified diversity drive claim

Donald Trump has connected a diversity drive at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under previous governments to the crash.

It has given that been said there is no proof to support the US president's claim.

Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Mr Trump recommended the diversity efforts had actually made air travel less safe.

At a White House press rundown on Friday, employment press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Mr Trump had signed a memorandum directing an immediate evaluation of FAA working with choices made throughout the previous administration.

While Mr Trump's claim appears to have actually been debunked, employment there are questions over staffing at Reagan Washington National Airport.

NBC News reported staffing in the air traffic control tower was "not regular", according to a preliminary FAA report.

The tower normally has a controller who focuses specifically on helicopter traffic - however at the time of the crash, a source stated, one controller was supervising both airplane and helicopter activity.

The FAA, which controls air traffic control service along with certification of workers and employment aircraft, is without an irreversible administrator. Its previous manager Michael Whitaker stepped down on 20 January - the day of Mr Trump's inauguration.

Follow Trump 100 on your podcast app Mr Trump has actually appointed an acting administrator, Chris Rocheleau, in the wake of the crash.

Mr Whitaker had encountered Mr Trump's confidante Elon Musk over the SpaceX rocket launches during his tenure at the FAA.

Since beginning as head of the administration in October 2023, he was also required to respond to Boeing's safety and employment quality problems, and worked to hire more air traffic controllers due to a scarcity of personnel.

Read more:.
Washington DC aircraft crash: What we know up until now.
Air traffic control heard diverting planes moments after collision

At his briefing, Mr Trump blamed previous president Joe Biden for decreasing requirements for air traffic controllers.

" We need to have our smartest people," he said. "They have to be naturally skilled geniuses."

Mr Trump added: "The FAA is actively recruiting employees who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other psychological and physical conditions under a variety and inclusion hiring effort defined on the firm's site."

The American Association of People with Disabilities responded to these claims, employment stating in a statement on X: "FAA workers with specials needs did not cause [the] tragic airplane crash.

" The investigation into the crash is still ongoing. It is very unsuitable for the president to use this tragedy to press an anti-diversity hiring program. Doing so makes all Americans less safe."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Mr Trump stated after being sworn in last week, he signed an executive order which "brought back the greatest requirements of air traffic controllers".

At a later briefing, he was asked if gender or race played a function. He answered: "It might have, I don't know.