DC plane crash latest updates: ‘Black box’ recorders recovered from jet which collided with helicopter killing 67

Georgia governor Brian Kemp despatched his “deepest condolences: to the households and buddies of Ryan O’Hara and Sam Lilley, who each died in Wednesday’s collisions.

“Each of those younger Georgians shared a ardour for flight and for serving others, and this horrible tragedy is that rather more tough figuring out their lives have been reduce so unexpectedly brief,” Kemp wrote on X.

“Marty, the ladies, and I ask that each one Georgians be part of us in protecting their family members in our ideas and prayers.”

O’Hara was a part of the crew on the helicopter, whereas Lilley was piloting the passenger airplane.

A younger civil rights lawyer on her means dwelling to Washington D.C. from Kansas was among the many 64 those who died on the passenger airplane.

Kiah Duggins, 30, labored as an lawyer for the Civil Rights Corps. She had been in Wichita to be together with her mom throughout a surgical process, in keeping with KMUW.

Duggins’ relations confirmed to the outlet on Thursday that she was onboard the flight.

Her father, Maurice Duggins, stated in an announcement: “We’re coming to phrases with the grief related to the lack of our lovely and completed firstborn. Please respect our household’s privateness at the moment.”

A number of near-misses involving helicopters close to DCA had been recorded within the three years earlier than Wednesday’s lethal crash, CNN experiences.

Federal incident experiences reviewed by the outlet, confirmed at the very least two different pilots reported near-misses with helicopters whereas touchdown on the airport.

On two events, in April 2024 and October 2022 respectively, passenger planes needed to take evasive motion to keep away from colliding with a helicopter, in keeping with experiences filed by pilots.

In a 3rd incident in September 2022, two army helicopters obtained too shut collectively, an air visitors controller reported.

Ice skating legends Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding have given emotional responses to the devastating deaths of fellow determine skaters within the Washington DC airplane crash.

Donald Trump responded sarcastically to questions on whether or not he can be visiting the location of the lethal crash over the Potomac River in Washington D.C., asking reporters on the White Home: “You need me to go swimming?”

The president stated on Thursday he can be assembly with a number of the households of victims of the tragedy, which occurred at Ronald Reagan Airport Wednesday night time. All 67 individuals concerned within the crash are presumed lifeless, authorities stated beforehand.

There are seemingly no survivors after an American Airways passenger jet and an Military helicopter crashed midair close to Washington, D.C, Wednesday night, officers have stated.

Flight 5342 from Kansas was on the ultimate strategy to Ronald Reagan Nationwide Airport when it collided with the Black Hawk helicopter earlier than exploding an enormous fireball. There have been 67 individuals aboard the 2 flights after they crashed.

Right here is all the pieces we all know in regards to the first business airline crash within the U.S. since 2009:

Air visitors management staffing at Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport was “not regular for the time of day and quantity of visitors,” on Wednesday night time when a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airways jet collided mid-air, in keeping with a brand new report.

Katie Hawkinson has extra:

Each of the flight information recorders – often known as black bins – from the passenger plane that collided with a army helicopter at DCA has been recovered from the Potomac River, authorities informed CNN.

The 2 units will now be taken to labs to look at their contents.