Investigators recover plane black boxes near US capitol from Washington

A passenger plane and a military helicopter crashed into the Potomac River in Washington DC | Photo: BBC

Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, commonly known as black boxes, from the passenger plane that crashed into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. The findings were confirmed by CBS News and ABC News. 

The crash occurred late Wednesday near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when an American Airlines domestic passenger jet collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. Both aircraft plunged into the icy waters of the Potomac River.

According to sources close to the investigation, the recovered black boxes will be analyzed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an independent government agency leading the probe.

The passenger plane carried 64 people, while the helicopter had three onboard. Authorities fear that none of the 67 passengers survived. Several bodies have already been recovered.

CBS News reported that rescue efforts were temporarily halted due to adverse conditions in the Potomac River. However, divers remain hopeful that all remains will be recovered.

The U.S. Coast Guard will remove portions of the wreckage from the river to facilitate the recovery operation. Rescue teams will resume underwater searches once the debris is cleared and conditions stabilize.

The investigation is ongoing, with officials working to determine the cause of the midair collision and any potential safety failures.