The two black boxes from the commercial aircraft that crashed into the Potomac River in Washington on Wednesday night, following a collision with a military helicopter, have now been recovered, according to U.S. media reports. The accident resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both aircraft.

The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were retrieved by investigators, according to unnamed sources cited by CBS News and ABC News. The information was also confirmed by Senator Maria Cantwell in a statement to Reuters.

Both black boxes were submerged in water, but officials believe the data they contain can still be extracted, which could provide a clearer picture of what caused the disaster. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the investigation, made this announcement earlier.

Meanwhile, the black box of the military helicopter has yet to be recovered.

No Survivors – Over 40 Bodies Retrieved

By late Thursday afternoon, more than 40 bodies had been recovered from the Potomac River. Among the victims were three students and six parents from Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia.

Diving operations were suspended for the day due to fading daylight, water conditions, and the increasing belief among rescuers that most accessible victims had already been retrieved without removing the aircraft fuselage from the water, according to a law enforcement source speaking to CNN.

Currently, the Washington Fire Chief, the NTSB, American Airlines, and other officials are meeting with victims’ families at a family assistance center.

Crane Brought in to Aid Recovery Efforts

A specialized crane, previously used to remove sections of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after its collapse in March 2024, is en route from Baltimore. The crane will be used to cut and lift parts of the aircraft, allowing divers to safely recover additional victims.

New York Times Report: “The Air Traffic Controller Was Doing the Job of Two”

The control tower at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was reportedly understaffed at the time of the crash, according to a New York Times report.

A preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), cited by the newspaper, states that the number of air traffic controllers on duty at Reagan Airport was “not normal for that time of day and the volume of air traffic.”

The controller managing helicopter traffic on Wednesday night was also responsible for directing aircraft landings and takeoffs—a role typically split between two controllers. This raises concerns about safety and working conditions in the control tower.

Adding to the complexity, controllers use different radio frequencies to communicate with helicopter and airplane pilots. This means that while a controller was speaking with a helicopter and a commercial jet, the pilots of both aircraft could not hear each other.

The New York Times report also notes that Reagan Airport’s control tower has been understaffed for years. As of September 2023, only 19 certified air traffic controllers were working there, while the FAA and the air traffic controllers’ union had requested at least 30. Due to the staffing shortage, many controllers had to work 10-hour shifts with only one day off per week.

Figure Skaters Among the Victims

Among those who perished were several figure skaters from the United States and Russia, who had recently competed in the national figure skating championship in Wichita, Kansas, where the flight originated.

Trump: “No Survivors – The Helicopter Pilot and Inclusion Policies to Blame”

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed there were no survivors from the crash.

“Unfortunately, there are no survivors,” Trump stated in a press conference at the White House. “It was a dark and terrible night for our capital and for the history of our country,” he added.

There were 64 passengers aboard the plane and three military personnel on the helicopter.

Fire Chief John Donnelly had already announced earlier in the day that no one had survived the crash.

In the same press conference, President Trump appointed Chris Rossello as the interim head of the FAA.

Trump also claimed that U.S. authorities have “strong opinions” about what caused the deadly collision. “We don’t yet know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong views and ideas,” he said.

Trump promised a thorough investigation and used the opportunity to launch political attacks, criticizing the oversight of the FAA under the Biden and Obama administrations.

He specifically targeted former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, saying: “That guy is a disaster. He ruined everything as mayor and as transportation secretary with his inclusion program. He’s only good at talking nonsense.”

U.S. Contacts Russia Over Russian Victims

Trump also revealed that Washington had reached out to Moscow following the deaths of Russian citizens in the crash.

“We have already contacted Russia,” Trump said. When asked if the U.S. would facilitate the return of the Russian victims’ remains, he responded, “Yes, we will facilitate it.” He also noted that the aircraft carried passengers of multiple nationalities.

FAA: The Crash Could Have Been Avoided

According to the FAA, the American Airlines Bombardier aircraft collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while approaching Reagan Airport.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a new appointee in the Trump administration, stated that the crash “could have been avoided.”

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that the helicopter crew was “relatively experienced” and was conducting a “routine nighttime training flight.” The three military personnel were equipped with night vision goggles at the time of the crash.