Salvage Crews Recover American Airlines Fuselage from Potomac, Launch Cleanup After Deadly Mid-Air Collision

Crews on Monday removed one of two plane engines and the plane fuselage from the water, and have started removing a wing, an Army official said. They hope to finish recovery of the plane over the next 24 hours, the official said. Crews plan to recover the cockpit on Tuesday, but winds may impact their work, the official said.

Cleanup continues on the Potomac River days after a passenger plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in mid-air, leaving 67 people dead.

President Trump acknowledged it was premature to draw conclusions, urging the nation to pray for the victims yesterday - although he controversially blamed DEI efforts while aviation experts continue their investigation. Earlier reports suggested an air traffic controller had 'left work early' on the night of the devastating D.C plane disaster, reports the Mirror US. Sources revealed to The New York Times that different air traffic controllers are typically assigned to manage the airspace for planes and helicopters during daytime at Ronald Reagan National Airport. However, as air traffic diminishes after 9.30pm, it's common for these responsibilities to be merged under a single controller. On the fateful day of the crash, it's been alleged that a supervisor prematurely allowed a controller to depart from their post before this time, leading to an early consolidation of roles. This decision may have had catastrophic consequences, as American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter collided around 9pm on Wednesday, with both plummeting into the Potomac River. In an unrelated tirade, former President Donald Trump let loose on his Truth Social platform, making unfounded claims about how diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) influenced the harrowing accident that resulted in the loss of 64 passengers on the American Airlines flight and three soldiers onboard the helicopter.