District of Columbia Fire Chief John Donnelly said on Thursday that emergency services expect to find no survivors following a collision between an American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk military helicopter. Crews on site will now proceed with recovery operations, he added. So far, the bodies of 27 passengers have been recovered from the airplane, which held 64 people, including the crew. There were three soldiers aboard the helicopter, one of whom has been recovered.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said both the plane and the helicopter were flying in a "standard pattern," with the Black Hawk on a training flight. An investigation into the incident is ongoing and includes local officials and the US military.