Authorities have actually recovered 41 bodies after an airplane 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 been recognized.

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

Washington crash: Follow the most recent updates

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

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

The information, initially reported by the New york city Times, has been confirmed to Sky News' US partner NBC News by a source knowledgeable about the investigation.

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It indicates a single controller was handling both aircraft and helicopter traffic in the location when the two aircraft collided.

It is allowable - however not optimal - for one controller to do both tasks, employment NBC News reported.

The American Airlines jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew when it crashed with the Black Hawk helicopter, carrying 3 soldiers, shortly before 9pm regional time on Wednesday.

Flight 5342 was preparing to arrive at runway 33 at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it hit the helicopter in among the most securely managed airspaces worldwide.

'Em ergency automobiles sped past me'

A male whose better half was on the flight has 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 wife of 2 years, Asra, had actually "texted me [and] said, 'We're landing in 20 minutes'".

" I was waiting and I started seeing a bunch of EMS automobiles speeding past me ... way too many, [more] than regular and my texts weren't going through."

Trump makes unproven diversity drive claim

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

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

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

At a White House press rundown on Friday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Mr Trump had actually signed a memorandum directing an instant assessment of FAA working with decisions made throughout the previous administration.

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

NBC News reported staffing in the air traffic control tower was "not typical", according to an initial FAA report.

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

The FAA, which manages air traffic control service in addition to accreditation of workers and airplane, lacks a long-term 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 selected 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 throughout his period at the FAA.

Since starting as head of the administration in October 2023, he was likewise forced to react to Boeing's security and quality problems, employment and employment worked to work with more air traffic controllers due to a shortage of personnel.

Find out more:. Washington DC plane crash: What we understand up until now. Air traffic control service heard diverting airplanes moments after crash

At his instruction, Mr Trump blamed former president Joe Biden for lowering standards for air traffic controllers.

" We need to have our most intelligent individuals," he said. "They have to be naturally skilled geniuses."

Mr Trump added: "The FAA is actively hiring employees who suffer serious intellectual specials needs, psychiatric issues, and other psychological and physical conditions under a variety and addition hiring effort defined on the company's website."

The American Association of People with Disabilities reacted to these claims, employment stating in a statement on X: "FAA employees with specials needs did not cause [the] terrible plane crash.

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

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

At a later instruction, he was asked if gender or race contributed. He answered: "It may have, I don't know.