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What is known about the deadly collision between a passenger jet and Army helicopter

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What is known about the deadly collision between a passenger jet and Army helicopter
News

News

What is known about the deadly collision between a passenger jet and Army helicopter

2025-02-05 07:55 Last Updated At:08:01

American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter collided in midair near Washington D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National last Wednesday night, sending both aircraft into the Potomac River and killing all 67 aboard in the deadliest U.S. air disaster since 2001.

Officials announced in a statement on Tuesday that the remains of all 67 victims had been recovered. All but one have been identified.

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Ice dancing coach Elena Dostatni places flowers at a memorial of photos for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last week's plane crash in Washington, D.C. during a vigil held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)

Ice dancing coach Elena Dostatni places flowers at a memorial of photos for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last week's plane crash in Washington, D.C. during a vigil held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)

Young skaters Callan Rahardja, left, and Rivkah Chavez-Herrera comfort each other after a vigil held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last weeks plane crash in Washington, D.C., Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)

Young skaters Callan Rahardja, left, and Rivkah Chavez-Herrera comfort each other after a vigil held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last weeks plane crash in Washington, D.C., Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)

A piece of wreckage is lifted from the water onto a salvage vessel, near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

A piece of wreckage is lifted from the water onto a salvage vessel, near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Salvage crews lift a piece of wreckage from the water at the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Salvage crews lift a piece of wreckage from the water at the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Col. Francis Pera, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, speaks as D.C. Fire and EMS Assistant Chief Gary Steen, right, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Nathan Ellgren)

Col. Francis Pera, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, speaks as D.C. Fire and EMS Assistant Chief Gary Steen, right, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Nathan Ellgren)

Salvage crews work near the wreckage site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Salvage crews work near the wreckage site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

The Cottonwood Heights Figure Skating Club, in unity with skating clubs nationwide and U.S. Figure Skating, holds a vigil for victims Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, at the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, after an American Airlines jet collided with a military helicopter near Washington’s Reagan National Airport. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)

The Cottonwood Heights Figure Skating Club, in unity with skating clubs nationwide and U.S. Figure Skating, holds a vigil for victims Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, at the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, after an American Airlines jet collided with a military helicopter near Washington’s Reagan National Airport. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)

A piece of wreckage is lifted from the water onto a salvage vessel near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

A piece of wreckage is lifted from the water onto a salvage vessel near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Salvage crews work near the wreckage site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Salvage crews work near the wreckage site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Police and rescue boats work in the Potomac river, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Arlington, Va., near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter, as seen from Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Police and rescue boats work in the Potomac river, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Arlington, Va., near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter, as seen from Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes pull up the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes pull up the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Young skates visit a memorial along the boards at MedStar Capitals Iceplex Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va., for the figure skaters who were among the 67 victims of a mid-air collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight from Kansas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Young skates visit a memorial along the boards at MedStar Capitals Iceplex Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va., for the figure skaters who were among the 67 victims of a mid-air collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight from Kansas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A plane takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as Roberto Marquez of Dallas places flowers at a memorial of crosses he erected for the 67 victims of a midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A plane takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as Roberto Marquez of Dallas places flowers at a memorial of crosses he erected for the 67 victims of a midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly, right, speaks as Col. Francis Pera, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly, right, speaks as Col. Francis Pera, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

In this undated image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigators examine a flight data recorder recovered from the wreckage of a mid-air collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. (NTSB via AP)

In this undated image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigators examine a flight data recorder recovered from the wreckage of a mid-air collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. (NTSB via AP)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes pull up the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes pull up the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

An American Airlines jet passes as family members of the victims of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter stand at the end of runway 33 near the wreckage site in the Potomac River at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

An American Airlines jet passes as family members of the victims of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter stand at the end of runway 33 near the wreckage site in the Potomac River at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

With the U.S. Capitol in the background, a crane sits in the Potomac river Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet that collided mid-air with an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Arlington, Va., as seen from Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

With the U.S. Capitol in the background, a crane sits in the Potomac river Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet that collided mid-air with an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Arlington, Va., as seen from Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Police officers escort buses carrying family members of the victims of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter to runway 33 near the wreckage site in the Potomac River at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Police officers escort buses carrying family members of the victims of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter to runway 33 near the wreckage site in the Potomac River at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The sun rises and a jet lifts off above a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The sun rises and a jet lifts off above a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. . (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. . (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews pull up a plane engine as cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews pull up a plane engine as cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

In this undated image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigators and members of the salvage crew recover wreckage from the Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines jet Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. (NTSB via AP)

In this undated image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigators and members of the salvage crew recover wreckage from the Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines jet Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. (NTSB via AP)

CORRECTS YEAR - National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators examine cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet that crashed with an Army helicopter Wednesday night near Washington, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (NTSB via AP)

CORRECTS YEAR - National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators examine cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet that crashed with an Army helicopter Wednesday night near Washington, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (NTSB via AP)

Emergency vehicles are seen across the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Emergency vehicles are seen across the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

FILE - The air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen, June 2, 2021, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

FILE - The air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen, June 2, 2021, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Crosses are seen in a makeshift memorial for the victims of the plane crash in the Potomac River near of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Crosses are seen in a makeshift memorial for the victims of the plane crash in the Potomac River near of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Terry Liercke, vice president and airport manager of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Terry Liercke, vice president and airport manager of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A person walks around of a makeshift memorial for the victims of the plane crash in the Potomac River near of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

A person walks around of a makeshift memorial for the victims of the plane crash in the Potomac River near of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Emergency vehicles and recovery operations are seen near the mouth of the Anacostia River at the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Emergency vehicles and recovery operations are seen near the mouth of the Anacostia River at the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman speaks with reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman speaks with reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman speaks with reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman speaks with reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu takes part in a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu takes part in a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

FILE - World champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov of Russia execute a throw during the pairs short competition at the World Figure Skating competition in Edmonton, Alberta, March 19, 1996. (Dave Buston/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

FILE - World champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov of Russia execute a throw during the pairs short competition at the World Figure Skating competition in Edmonton, Alberta, March 19, 1996. (Dave Buston/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Search efforts are seen around a wreckage site of a deadly midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va., as an American Airlines jet lifts off from the airport. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Search efforts are seen around a wreckage site of a deadly midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va., as an American Airlines jet lifts off from the airport. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Emergency vehicles are seen across the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Emergency vehicles are seen across the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators examine cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet that crashed with an Army helicopter Wednesday night near Washington, D.C, Thursday, Jan.30, 2024. (NTSB via AP)

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators examine cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet that crashed with an Army helicopter Wednesday night near Washington, D.C, Thursday, Jan.30, 2024. (NTSB via AP)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

A donated vase of red roses honors victims of the deadly collision between a passenger airliner and an Army helicopter that occurred the day prior, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at the Law Enforcement Memorial in Wichita, Kan., where the airline passenger flight originated. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

A donated vase of red roses honors victims of the deadly collision between a passenger airliner and an Army helicopter that occurred the day prior, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at the Law Enforcement Memorial in Wichita, Kan., where the airline passenger flight originated. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

Wichita, Kan., city council member Brandon Johnson grieves during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Wichita, Kan., city council member Brandon Johnson grieves during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Carla Lee, a retired Wichita State University nursing professor, holds up a vase of red roses to show her support for the families of victims of a deadly collision between a passenger airliner and an Army helicopter that occurred the day prior, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., where the airline passenger flight originated. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

Carla Lee, a retired Wichita State University nursing professor, holds up a vase of red roses to show her support for the families of victims of a deadly collision between a passenger airliner and an Army helicopter that occurred the day prior, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., where the airline passenger flight originated. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

US Park Police helicopter during search and rescue efforts around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

US Park Police helicopter during search and rescue efforts around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu hugs Pastor Albert Paredes during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu hugs Pastor Albert Paredes during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Former Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan pauses while addressing the media at The Skating Club of Boston, The Skating Club of Boston, where six members of the club's community, including athletes, coaches and family, were killed in an airplane collision with a helicopter on Wednesday in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Former Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan pauses while addressing the media at The Skating Club of Boston, The Skating Club of Boston, where six members of the club's community, including athletes, coaches and family, were killed in an airplane collision with a helicopter on Wednesday in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy speaks during a press conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va., as board members look on. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy speaks during a press conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va., as board members look on. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Six white roses and photographs of victims are displayed at The Skating Club of Boston, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Six white roses and photographs of victims are displayed at The Skating Club of Boston, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Journalists photograph a memorial to local skaters killed in a 1961 plane crash at The Skating Club of Boston, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Journalists photograph a memorial to local skaters killed in a 1961 plane crash at The Skating Club of Boston, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

People associated with The Skating Club of Boston console each other, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

People associated with The Skating Club of Boston console each other, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu speaks at a news conference, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025, in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu speaks at a news conference, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025, in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

A US Park Police helicopter flies over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A US Park Police helicopter flies over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A US Park Police helicopter flies over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A US Park Police helicopter flies over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, with District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, left, and other officials, speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, with District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, left, and other officials, speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, left, and other officials, speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, left, and other officials, speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

From left, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and other officials, during a news conference on the Wednesday night crash of an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

From left, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and other officials, during a news conference on the Wednesday night crash of an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

A boat works the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A boat works the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Rescuer workers respond to the scene on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Rescuer workers respond to the scene on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Boats work the scene on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Boats work the scene on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

FILE - Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov of Russia perform during free skating in the pairs event of the NHK Trophy International Figure Skating Competition at Nagoya central Japan, Dec. 9, 1995. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

FILE - Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov of Russia perform during free skating in the pairs event of the NHK Trophy International Figure Skating Competition at Nagoya central Japan, Dec. 9, 1995. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

A boat works the scene near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A boat works the scene near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Boats work the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Boats work the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The cause of the crash 3 miles (5 kilometers) south of the White House and U.S. Capitol was under investigation Tuesday as crews continued removing wreckage from the river.

The regional jet out of Wichita, Kansas, carried 60 passengers and four crew and was preparing to land. The UH-60 Black Hawk, based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was on a training exercise and carried three soldiers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Skies were clear.

A few minutes before the Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-700 series twin-engine jet was to land, air traffic controllers asked Flight 5342 if it could use a shorter runway. The pilots agreed. Controllers cleared the landing. Flight-tracking sites show the plane adjusted its approach to the new runway.

Less than 30 seconds before the collision, a controller asked the helicopter if it had the plane in sight. The military pilot said yes.

Moments later the controller made another call to the helicopter, apparently telling it to wait for the jet to pass.

There was no reply and the two aircraft collided.

“Our hearts are with the victims’ families as they navigate this tragic loss,” officials said in a joint statement announcing the recovery of all the victims’ remains. It was issued by the city and federal agencies involved, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Navy dive teams and Washington police and fire crews.

A medical examiner was still trying to positively identify one set of remains, the statement said.

On Monday salvage crews retrieved one of the two jet engines and large pieces of the plane's exterior from the river. The following day, working in choppy conditions, they raised a number of large pieces of the jetliner including the right wing, the center fuselage and parts of the forward cabin, cockpit, tail cone and rudder. They hope to recover the helicopter later in the week.

Two Navy barges are lifting wreckage from the river. Portions of the two aircraft will be loaded onto flatbed trucks and taken to a hangar. More than 300 responders were taking part in the recovery effort at any given time, officials said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that it was examining new data that could put the helicopter above its flight ceiling of 200 feet (61 meters).

The airport’s air traffic control screen — relying on radar sensors and other data — had the helicopter at 300 feet (91 meters), the NTSB said. However that figure would have been rounded to the nearest 100 feet, according to authorities.

Investigators said they need to get more information from the still-submerged Black Hawk to verify the data.

The jet’s flight recorder showed its altitude as 325 feet (99 meters), plus or minus 25 feet (7.6 meters).

Investigators said that about a second before impact, the jet’s flight recorder showed a change in its pitch. But they did not say whether that change in angle meant pilots were trying to perform an evasive maneuver to avoid the crash.

The plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet (732 meters) short of the runway, roughly over the middle of the Potomac, and the plane was found upside-down in three sections in waist-deep water. The helicopter’s wreckage was also found in the river.

Army aviation chief of staff Jonathan Koziol said the helicopter crew was “very experienced” and familiar with the congested flying around Washington.

Full NTSB investigations typically take a year or more. Investigators hope to have a preliminary report within 30 days.

President Donald Trump has publicly faulted the helicopter for flying at too high an altitude. He also said federal diversity and inclusion efforts — particularly regarding air traffic controllers — were somehow to blame. When repeatedly pressed on it by reporters in the White House briefing room, the president could not back up those claims.

Among the passengers were members of the Skating Club of Boston who were returning from a development camp that followed the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita.

Victims included teenage figure skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, the teens' mothers and two Russian-born coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won a 1994 world championship in pairs skating.

The victims also included a group of hunters returning from a guided trip in Kansas, four members of a steamfitters’ local union in suburban Maryland, nine students and parents from Fairfax County, Virginia, schools and two Chinese nationals.

The plane captain was Jonathan Campos, 34, according to multiple media reports.

The Army identified the soldiers on the helicopter as Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach of Durham, North Carolina; Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia; and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland. O'Hara was the crew chief and Eaves and Lobach were pilots.

Associated Press reporters throughout the U.S. contributed.

Ice dancing coach Elena Dostatni places flowers at a memorial of photos for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last week's plane crash in Washington, D.C. during a vigil held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)

Ice dancing coach Elena Dostatni places flowers at a memorial of photos for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last week's plane crash in Washington, D.C. during a vigil held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)

Young skaters Callan Rahardja, left, and Rivkah Chavez-Herrera comfort each other after a vigil held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last weeks plane crash in Washington, D.C., Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)

Young skaters Callan Rahardja, left, and Rivkah Chavez-Herrera comfort each other after a vigil held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the 28 skaters, family members and coaches who died in last weeks plane crash in Washington, D.C., Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)

A piece of wreckage is lifted from the water onto a salvage vessel, near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

A piece of wreckage is lifted from the water onto a salvage vessel, near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Salvage crews lift a piece of wreckage from the water at the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Salvage crews lift a piece of wreckage from the water at the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Col. Francis Pera, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, speaks as D.C. Fire and EMS Assistant Chief Gary Steen, right, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Nathan Ellgren)

Col. Francis Pera, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, speaks as D.C. Fire and EMS Assistant Chief Gary Steen, right, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Nathan Ellgren)

Salvage crews work near the wreckage site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Salvage crews work near the wreckage site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

The Cottonwood Heights Figure Skating Club, in unity with skating clubs nationwide and U.S. Figure Skating, holds a vigil for victims Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, at the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, after an American Airlines jet collided with a military helicopter near Washington’s Reagan National Airport. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)

The Cottonwood Heights Figure Skating Club, in unity with skating clubs nationwide and U.S. Figure Skating, holds a vigil for victims Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, at the Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, after an American Airlines jet collided with a military helicopter near Washington’s Reagan National Airport. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)

A piece of wreckage is lifted from the water onto a salvage vessel near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

A piece of wreckage is lifted from the water onto a salvage vessel near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Salvage crews work near the wreckage site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Salvage crews work near the wreckage site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Police and rescue boats work in the Potomac river, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Arlington, Va., near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter, as seen from Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Police and rescue boats work in the Potomac river, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Arlington, Va., near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter, as seen from Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes pull up the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes pull up the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Young skates visit a memorial along the boards at MedStar Capitals Iceplex Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va., for the figure skaters who were among the 67 victims of a mid-air collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight from Kansas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Young skates visit a memorial along the boards at MedStar Capitals Iceplex Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va., for the figure skaters who were among the 67 victims of a mid-air collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight from Kansas. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A plane takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as Roberto Marquez of Dallas places flowers at a memorial of crosses he erected for the 67 victims of a midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A plane takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as Roberto Marquez of Dallas places flowers at a memorial of crosses he erected for the 67 victims of a midair collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines jet, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly, right, speaks as Col. Francis Pera, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly, right, speaks as Col. Francis Pera, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

In this undated image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigators examine a flight data recorder recovered from the wreckage of a mid-air collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. (NTSB via AP)

In this undated image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigators examine a flight data recorder recovered from the wreckage of a mid-air collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. (NTSB via AP)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes pull up the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes pull up the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

An American Airlines jet passes as family members of the victims of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter stand at the end of runway 33 near the wreckage site in the Potomac River at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

An American Airlines jet passes as family members of the victims of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter stand at the end of runway 33 near the wreckage site in the Potomac River at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

With the U.S. Capitol in the background, a crane sits in the Potomac river Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet that collided mid-air with an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Arlington, Va., as seen from Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

With the U.S. Capitol in the background, a crane sits in the Potomac river Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet that collided mid-air with an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Arlington, Va., as seen from Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Police officers escort buses carrying family members of the victims of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter to runway 33 near the wreckage site in the Potomac River at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Police officers escort buses carrying family members of the victims of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter to runway 33 near the wreckage site in the Potomac River at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The sun rises and a jet lifts off above a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The sun rises and a jet lifts off above a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. . (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Arlington, Va. . (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews with cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews pull up a plane engine as cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rescue and salvage crews pull up a plane engine as cranes work near the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

In this undated image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigators and members of the salvage crew recover wreckage from the Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines jet Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. (NTSB via AP)

In this undated image provided by the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB investigators and members of the salvage crew recover wreckage from the Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines jet Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Va. (NTSB via AP)

CORRECTS YEAR - National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators examine cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet that crashed with an Army helicopter Wednesday night near Washington, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (NTSB via AP)

CORRECTS YEAR - National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators examine cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet that crashed with an Army helicopter Wednesday night near Washington, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (NTSB via AP)

Emergency vehicles are seen across the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Emergency vehicles are seen across the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

FILE - The air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen, June 2, 2021, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

FILE - The air traffic control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is seen, June 2, 2021, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Crosses are seen in a makeshift memorial for the victims of the plane crash in the Potomac River near of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Crosses are seen in a makeshift memorial for the victims of the plane crash in the Potomac River near of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Terry Liercke, vice president and airport manager of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Terry Liercke, vice president and airport manager of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, listens during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A person walks around of a makeshift memorial for the victims of the plane crash in the Potomac River near of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

A person walks around of a makeshift memorial for the victims of the plane crash in the Potomac River near of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Emergency vehicles and recovery operations are seen near the mouth of the Anacostia River at the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Emergency vehicles and recovery operations are seen near the mouth of the Anacostia River at the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles/U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman speaks with reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman speaks with reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman speaks with reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman speaks with reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu takes part in a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu takes part in a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

FILE - World champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov of Russia execute a throw during the pairs short competition at the World Figure Skating competition in Edmonton, Alberta, March 19, 1996. (Dave Buston/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

FILE - World champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov of Russia execute a throw during the pairs short competition at the World Figure Skating competition in Edmonton, Alberta, March 19, 1996. (Dave Buston/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Search efforts are seen around a wreckage site of a deadly midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va., as an American Airlines jet lifts off from the airport. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Search efforts are seen around a wreckage site of a deadly midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va., as an American Airlines jet lifts off from the airport. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Emergency vehicles are seen across the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Emergency vehicles are seen across the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators examine cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet that crashed with an Army helicopter Wednesday night near Washington, D.C, Thursday, Jan.30, 2024. (NTSB via AP)

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators examine cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet that crashed with an Army helicopter Wednesday night near Washington, D.C, Thursday, Jan.30, 2024. (NTSB via AP)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

A donated vase of red roses honors victims of the deadly collision between a passenger airliner and an Army helicopter that occurred the day prior, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at the Law Enforcement Memorial in Wichita, Kan., where the airline passenger flight originated. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

A donated vase of red roses honors victims of the deadly collision between a passenger airliner and an Army helicopter that occurred the day prior, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at the Law Enforcement Memorial in Wichita, Kan., where the airline passenger flight originated. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

Wichita, Kan., city council member Brandon Johnson grieves during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Wichita, Kan., city council member Brandon Johnson grieves during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Carla Lee, a retired Wichita State University nursing professor, holds up a vase of red roses to show her support for the families of victims of a deadly collision between a passenger airliner and an Army helicopter that occurred the day prior, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., where the airline passenger flight originated. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

Carla Lee, a retired Wichita State University nursing professor, holds up a vase of red roses to show her support for the families of victims of a deadly collision between a passenger airliner and an Army helicopter that occurred the day prior, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., where the airline passenger flight originated. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

US Park Police helicopter during search and rescue efforts around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

US Park Police helicopter during search and rescue efforts around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu hugs Pastor Albert Paredes during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu hugs Pastor Albert Paredes during a prayer vigil in Wichita, Kan., on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, for those affected by the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 near Washington the day before. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Former Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan pauses while addressing the media at The Skating Club of Boston, The Skating Club of Boston, where six members of the club's community, including athletes, coaches and family, were killed in an airplane collision with a helicopter on Wednesday in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Former Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan pauses while addressing the media at The Skating Club of Boston, The Skating Club of Boston, where six members of the club's community, including athletes, coaches and family, were killed in an airplane collision with a helicopter on Wednesday in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy speaks during a press conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va., as board members look on. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy speaks during a press conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va., as board members look on. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Six white roses and photographs of victims are displayed at The Skating Club of Boston, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Six white roses and photographs of victims are displayed at The Skating Club of Boston, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump calls on a reporter to ask a question in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Journalists photograph a memorial to local skaters killed in a 1961 plane crash at The Skating Club of Boston, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Journalists photograph a memorial to local skaters killed in a 1961 plane crash at The Skating Club of Boston, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

People associated with The Skating Club of Boston console each other, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

People associated with The Skating Club of Boston console each other, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu speaks at a news conference, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025, in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

Wichita mayor Lily Wu speaks at a news conference, Thursday Jan. 30, 2025, in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

A US Park Police helicopter flies over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A US Park Police helicopter flies over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A US Park Police helicopter flies over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

A US Park Police helicopter flies over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, with District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, left, and other officials, speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, with District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, left, and other officials, speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, left, and other officials, speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, left, and other officials, speaks during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

From left, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and other officials, during a news conference on the Wednesday night crash of an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

From left, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and other officials, during a news conference on the Wednesday night crash of an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

A boat works the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A boat works the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Rescuer workers respond to the scene on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Rescuer workers respond to the scene on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Boats work the scene on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Boats work the scene on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

FILE - Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov of Russia perform during free skating in the pairs event of the NHK Trophy International Figure Skating Competition at Nagoya central Japan, Dec. 9, 1995. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

FILE - Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov of Russia perform during free skating in the pairs event of the NHK Trophy International Figure Skating Competition at Nagoya central Japan, Dec. 9, 1995. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

A boat works the scene near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A boat works the scene near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Boats work the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Boats work the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Next Article

Trump says federal government should 'take over' DC, backing congressional GOP push

2025-02-20 11:08 Last Updated At:11:10

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday threw his support behind congressional efforts for a federal takeover of the nation's capital, saying he approves putting the District of Columbia back under direct federal control.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump complained about crime and homelessness in the district, saying, “I think we should take over Washington, D.C. — make it safe.” He added, "I think that we should govern District of Columbia.”

Under terms of the city’s Home Rule authority, Congress already vets all D.C. laws and can outright overturn them. Some congressional Republicans have sought to go further, eroding decades of the city’s limited autonomy and putting it back under direct federal control, as it was at its founding.

Trump said he liked District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser personally, but complained about the city's governance.

“They’re not doing the job,” Trump said. “Too much crime, too much — too many tents on the lawns — these magnificent lawns.”

He argued that he can't have sights of homelessness when he hosts foreign leaders in Washington. “You just can’t let that happen,” Trump said. “You can’t have tents on all your beautiful — your once magnificent plaza and lawns.”

President Donald Trump, followed by Elon Musk, arrives on Air Force One, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md, after returning from Florida. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump, followed by Elon Musk, arrives on Air Force One, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md, after returning from Florida. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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