Salvage crews initiated the recovery of wreckage from American Airlines Flight 5342 in the Potomac River on Monday, February 3, 2025. The operation is expected to span three days, starting with the lifting of what appeared to be one of the jet’s engines. Crews began gathering in the area around 8 a.m., with Col. Francis Pera from the Army Corps of Engineers noting the salvage operation would potentially uncover the remains of some of the individuals still unaccounted for since the tragic collision last week.
During the incident, there were 64 passengers aboard the airline jet, along with three members of the helicopter crew, with all lives lost. As of Sunday, remains of 55 victims have been recovered, and efforts remain ongoing to search through the cold and murky waters for additional bodies.
Upon extraction from the river, the wreckage will be transported via flatbed trailer to a designated hangar where it will undergo examination as part of a thorough crash investigation. The incident represents the deadliest plane crash to occur in the U.S. over the past two decades, taking place in clear evening skies as the American Airlines flight was nearing Ronald Reagan National Airport. Federal investigators have indicated it is too early to determine the specific causes of the crash, which has sparked concerns regarding airport staffing and safety amid ongoing congestion.
The community continues to mourn the loss as recovery efforts move forward, hoping for closure amidst this devastating incident.
