DC Fire chief says removing aircraft will help resolve number of bodies recovered

D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said Friday that the American Airlines plane must be removed from the Potomac River in order to successfully find and recover all 67 bodies from the crash site.

“I believe for us to recover the rest of the remains, that we are going to need to get the fuselage out of the water,” Donnelly said during a Friday news conference at Reagan National Airport.

Donnelly said that as of 6 a.m. Friday, a total of 41 bodies were recovered from the scene, with 28 passengers positively identified. Next of kin notifications were made to 18 families.

Donnelly said “a lot” of the Friday recovery operations focused on the Black Hawk helicopter. He did not detail what specific operations would be carried out in regards to the military chopper.

“It’s been a tough response for a lot of our people,” he said, noting that around 300 first responders had been participating on the multiagency work. “This is heartbreaking work.”

Police boats were spotted early Friday, as investigators began their second full day into the investigation, which is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board and in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Asked whether the rainy weather was impacting recovery efforts, Donnelly told reporters that conditions may “slightly” affect progress but that “the weather we’ve seen so far is weather we can work in.”

As for airport operations, Terry Liercke, vice president and manager of the airport, said that Reagan National remained open and operating in a reduced capacity, with two of its three runways closed during recovery operations.

It’s unclear how long the runways will remain closed, but Liercke suggested it could last one week. “It’s a fluid situation, obviously,” he said.

The official explained that the runways were temporarily shuttered as the coordinating flight paths for the tarmacs would directly impact recovery efforts.

Leave the debris be, alert the police

Recovery personnel cordoned off areas along the shoreline with red tents and equipment in order to take in any additional bodies recovered from the water, WTOP’s Kyle Cooper reported from South Capitol Street.

“Boats have been pulling up here and remains are transferred to an ambulance — all under the direction of the D.C Medical Examiner’s Office,” Cooper said, adding that authorities asked the public to not disturb any potential crash debris that washes ashore.

At Waterfront Park in Alexandria, there’s a sign saying that if any debris is found, call 911. Other waterfront locations have areas that are closed, such as at Gravelly Point and parts of the waterfront at National Harbor, to make sure debris is not disturbed.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments said that leaving debris alone is “critical to supporting the impacted families and investigation.”

Parts of East Potomac Park are closed as well, but someone did leave behind flowers and a note which reads in part, “We will never forget you, God bless you.”

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Gaby Arancibia

Gaby comes to WTOP from Sputnik News where she spent the last eight years working her way up from social media manager to writer, and then senior editor.

The crash site with an American Airlines plane taking off and an American flag in the background
The view of the crash site with an American Airlines plane taking off and an American flag in the background. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
Aircraft Down
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, Virginia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Investigators continue recovery efforts
Investigators continue recovery efforts in the waters of the Potomac River after American Airlines flight 5342 collided mid-air late January 29 with a US Army helicopter as the plane approached to land at Reagan National Airport, near Washington, DC, on January 31, 2025. Investigators on January 30 recovered the black boxes from the plane. The accident killed all 67 people, as rescuers pulled bodies from the freezing water. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. Park Police helicopter flies near the crash site
A U.S. Park Police helicopter flies near the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after the plane crashed last night on approach to Reagan National Airport on Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. The American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided in midair with a military helicopter while approaching the airport. According to reports there were no survivors amongst the 67 people on board both aircraft. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
D.C. police help investigate near the crash site
D.C. police help investigate near the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after the plane crashed last night on approach to Reagan National Airport on Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. The American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided in midair with a military helicopter while approaching the airport. According to reports there were no survivors amongst the 67 people on board both aircraft. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Ken Schantz takes in the scene near where emergency response units search the crash site
Ken Schantz takes in the scene near where emergency response units search the crash site of an American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after an accident last night while on approach to Reagan National Airport on Jan.30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. The American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people on both aircraft. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Emergency response units search near the crash site
Emergency response units search near the crash site of an American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after an accident last night while on approach to Reagan National Airport on Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. The American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter while on approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. According to reports, there were no survivors among the 67 people on both aircraft. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
A Coast Guard boat near the crash site
A Coast Guard boat near the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after the plane crashed on approach to Reagan National Airport on Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington, D.C. The American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided in midair with a military helicopter while approaching the airport. According to reports, there were no survivors amongst the 67 people on board both aircraft. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Aircraft Down
The wreckage site in the Potomac River with the view of the U.S. Capitol in the background, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Law enforcement setup staging area
Law enforcement setup a staging area as they continue their investigation into the American Airlines plane that crashed into the Potomac River as it was attempting to land at the Reagan National Airport on January 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, collided in midair with a military helicopter while approaching the airport. According to reports, there were no survivors amongst the 67 people on board both aircraft. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Search and rescue efforts
A view of the search and rescue efforts around the wreckage site from Reagan National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Rescue crews riding on boats
Two rescue crews riding on boats around the wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, early Thursday morning, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Part of the wreckage is seen as rescue crews search the waters of the Potomac River after a passenger plane on approach to Reagan National Airport crashed into the river after colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter, near D.C., on Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
Emergency crews respond to aircraft crash near Reagan National Airport
Emergency response units search the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after the plane crashed on approach to Reagan National Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
A view inside Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, currently closed to all flights, after a passenger plane on approach to Reagan National Airport crashed into the river after colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter, in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 30, 2025.  (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
"Emergency Alert" signs
Signs display an “Emergency Alert” at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday morning. (WTOP/John Domen)
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks during a press conference as emergency response units continue to search the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Muriel Bowser speaks at news conference
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks at a news conference at Reagan National Airport on Thursday morning. (WTOP/John Domen)
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) speaks during a press conference as emergency response units continue to search the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River on Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy speaks during a press conference as emergency response units continue to search the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River on Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Part of the wreckage is seen as rescue boats search the waters of the Potomac River after a plane on approach to Reagan National Airport crashed into the river near D.C., on Jan. 30, 2025. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
Aircraft Down
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., past the tail of a parked United Airlines jet. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Aircraft Down
People arrive to check on passengers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Aircraft Down
Rescue boats work the scene on the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
APTOPIX Aircraft Down
A view of emergency response looking from Arlington, Virginia, south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, across the Potomac River toward the District of Columbia, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Shadows of people standing near water on Daingerfield Island
A look of the crash from the dock of Daingerfield Island in Virginia. (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
A diving team and police boat are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River.
A diving team and police boat are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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.
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.
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)
(1/29)
The crash site with an American Airlines plane taking off and an American flag in the background
Aircraft Down
Investigators continue recovery efforts
U.S. Park Police helicopter flies near the crash site
D.C. police help investigate near the crash site
Ken Schantz takes in the scene near where emergency response units search the crash site
Emergency response units search near the crash site
A Coast Guard boat near the crash site
Aircraft Down
Law enforcement setup staging area
Search and rescue efforts
Rescue crews riding on boats
Emergency crews respond to aircraft crash near Reagan National Airport
"Emergency Alert" signs
Muriel Bowser speaks at news conference
Aircraft Down
Aircraft Down
Aircraft Down
APTOPIX Aircraft Down
Shadows of people standing near water on Daingerfield Island
A diving team and police boat are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River.
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.
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.
Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up