Rescue teams in Washington, D.C., have identified 55 of the 67 victims from the devastating mid-air collision between an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, officials confirmed Sunday. The disaster, now considered the deadliest air crash in the U.S. since 2001, has left families desperate for answers while investigators work around the clock to determine what went wrong.

Grim Recovery Efforts Continue in the Potomac River

Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly provided an update on the recovery efforts, stating that the search for the remaining 12 victims is ongoing. “If we knew exactly where they were, we would have already recovered them,” he said, underscoring the difficulty of the operation.

Divers and rescue teams are combing through the wreckage in the Potomac River, where conditions remain treacherous. More than 300 personnel are involved in the mission, including Navy salvage teams using heavy-duty barges to lift debris. Authorities have confirmed that some wreckage will be transported to a secure location for further analysis.

The toll on first responders has been immense. One diver had to be hospitalized for hypothermia, though he was later discharged. Another firefighter described the scene as “emotionally exhausting,” telling reporters that the water was clear enough to reveal the full horror of the crash.