In Washington, D.C., efforts are underway to salvage the wreckage of an American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk Helicopter that collided, killing 67 people in the deadliest air disaster in over two decades. The Army Corps of Engineers is set to remove the mangled fuselage from the Potomac River where the aircraft fell. Much of the river is off-limits to all vessels except authorized boats. Crews have identified 55 of the 67 victims so far, with family members visiting the crash site to pay their respects.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the collision and has suggested that the helicopter may have been flying above its assigned altitude limit of 200 feet. On the night of the crash, the helicopter was on a routine training mission for possible evacuations of senior officials. The passenger jet had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and was in the process of landing when the collision occurred.
Efforts are ongoing to recover the wreckage and determine the cause of the tragic accident. Check back for updates on the situation.
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