Heavy crane to retrieve wreckage of airliner, helicopter from Potomac River

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 02: An American Eagle Embraer 170 jet takes off from Reagan National Airport as a crane moves in to place on the Potomac River for recovery efforts on February 02, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - FEBRUARY 02: An American Eagle Embraer 170 jet takes off from Reagan National Airport as a crane moves in to place on the Potomac River for recovery efforts on February 02, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, 2025 outside of Washington, DC. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people onboard both aircraft. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Photo credit (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Officials say they have recovered the bodies of 55 of the 67 victims killed in the collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport last week.

Divers are still searching the Potomac River for the remains of 12 people, and the waterway remains closed to unauthorized vessels.

The process of lifting the wreckage out of the river will begin Monday, with the goal of recovering as much as possible while also accounting for human remains.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash, with early information suggesting that the helicopter was flying above its maximum allowed altitude.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)