On Saturday, recovery teams are still working to find bodies in the Potomac River following the tragic crash of a passenger jet and an Army helicopter that resulted in the deaths of 67 individuals near Reagan Washington National Airport.

Rescue crews were braving the cold waters on Saturday afternoon to access the wreckage. Navy barges from Virginia Beach are expected to assist in removing the wreckage from the Potomac and to help locate the remaining bodies.

Fire Chief John Donnelly reported that search teams intensified their efforts, employing sonar scanning, inspecting the shoreline, and conducting aerial searches throughout the Potomac.

As of Friday, a total of 26 bodies from Wednesday’s crash, marked as the worst aviation disaster in years, remain unrecovered. Searchers have located the remains of 41 individuals thus far.

The Army has identified two of the three soldiers who were aboard the Black Hawk helicopter. The ill-fated American Airlines Flight 5342 had 60 passengers along with four crew members onboard.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have successfully retrieved the two “black boxes” from the aircraft. NTSB member Todd Inman announced on Friday that the black box from the helicopter had also been recovered and appeared to be in good condition. These devices, which store flight data and recordings, are crucial for determining the circumstances that led to the crash.

Analysis from The Washington Post revealed that air traffic control had notified the helicopter twice about the approaching jet. The initial alert occurred two minutes prior to the incident, followed by a second alert just 12 seconds before the collision happened.

Black Hawk Helicopter Was Part of Doomsday Preparedness

The Black Hawk helicopter involved in Wednesday’s crash was on a training mission for a rarely discussed military operation aimed at safely evacuating senior government officials in the event of an attack on the U.S., according to officials.

This military initiative, termed “continuity of government” and “continuity of operations,” is designed to maintain the functionality of the U.S. government in crisis situations. Normally, crews like the one lost on Wednesday are responsible for transporting VIPs through a heavily trafficked Washington, D.C.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified during a White House press briefing on Thursday that the Black Hawk crew was conducting routine training for night flights along a standard route important for continuity of government operations.

– Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali, Reuters

Comments from President Trump and Secretary Duffy Could Impact Lawsuits

Families of the victims from Wednesday’s tragic airline collision have begun the process of filing legal claims against the government, which may be strengthened by recent statements from President Trump and his cabinet members.

Top attorneys from a leading aviation disaster firm have reported being contacted by families seeking legal recourse following the deadly incident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which took the lives of 67 people. This firm previously secured settlements for victims’ families in the 2009 Continental Airlines crash in Buffalo that killed 50 people.

Legal experts suggest that public remarks made by Trump, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could bolster the cases of the victims’ families should they proceed with litigation, according to partners at the New York law firm Kreindler & Kreindler.

“Duffy essentially stated: We acknowledge our responsibility, and the president made comments regarding the Army helicopter pilot’s errors,” stated Justin Green, a partner at the firm. “It’ll be intriguing to observe how the government and this administration address any claims arising from this case. They have the authority to expedite compensation claims.”

– Nick Penzenstadler

Grief Among Figure Skaters Spans Continents and Generations

At a local ice rink near Washington, community members laid flowers and stuffed animals on a memorial table. Meanwhile, leader of a prominent figure skating club on the outskirts of Boston, emotionally spoke out.

As the figure skating community copes with the loss of over 15 skaters, coaches, and parents in the tragic plane crash, the sorrow is felt well beyond the local clubs and cities affected. In the wake of this disaster, the impact has reverberated through ice rinks and skating clubs nationwide and even globally, from Raleigh to San Francisco, and as far as Montreal and Talinn, Estonia, where the European Figure Skating Championships are currently being held.

“What you learn in skating is that you fall, but you always get back up,” remarked Tenley Albright, a 1956 Olympic champion and inductee into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, on Friday. “Now, we must find a way to rise again, even though we’re uncertain how to begin.”

– Tom Schad and Josh Peter

FAA Enacts Helicopter Route Restrictions Near Reagan National Airport

In response to the fatal collision, the Federal Aviation Administration has imposed restrictions on helicopter traffic around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as of Friday.

The Department of Transportation indicated that exceptions would apply for helicopters engaged in “lifesaving medical support, active law enforcement, active air defense, or presidential transport.”

The restricted area over the Potomac River extends approximately from the Memorial Bridge to the Wilson Bridge. Officials mentioned that these restrictions would be reevaluated after the National Transportation Safety Board completes its preliminary investigation into Wednesday’s incident.

The airspace around Washington, D.C., is typically congested, home to three commercial airports and several military installations. The Potomac corridor is particularly bustling with both airliners and helicopters.

(This story has been updated to include new information.)

Contributing: Christopher Cann and Minnah Arshad,