Crews to start removing wreckage from deadly midair collision

[craig nigrelli]

TODAY — CREWS WILL START CLEARING THE WRECKAGE OF AN AMERICAN AIRLINES PASSENGER JET AND AN ARMY BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER THAT COLLIDED MIDAIR FROM THE POTOMAC RIVER NEAR WASHINGTON, D.C.

THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WILL WORK ALONGSIDE THE COAST GUARD AND THE NAVY SUPERVISOR OF SALVAGE AND DIVING. They will START BY REMOVING THE REMNANTS OF THE JET FROM THE WATER — which is expected to TO TAKE THREE DAYS.

Once completed — THEY WILL WORK ON GETTING THE BLACK HAWK WRECKAGE OUT OF THE WATER.

HAULERS WILL TAKE THE WRECKAGE TO A NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY BOARD HANGAR FOR INVESTIGATORS TO INSPECT AS THEY WORK TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT LED TO THE DEADLY COLLISION NEAR REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT.

THIS COMES AS THE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR THE REMAINS OF ALL THOSE KILLED IN THE CRASH.

AS OF THEIR LAST UPDATE, FEDERAL  AUTHORITIES SAY THAT SEARCHERS HAVE RECOVERED AND IDENTIFIED THE REMAINS OF 55 OF THE 67 PEOPLE KILLED IN THE CRASH.

THEY SAY THEY **DO** EXPECT TO RECOVER ALL THE BODIES. HOWEVER,  LOW VISIBILITY IN THE FRIGID WATER AND THE strewn about WRECKAGE OF BOTH AIRCRAFT ARE SLOWING THE PROCESS.

THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS SAYS THE GOAL IS TO HAVE EVERYTHING REMOVED BY NEXT WEDNESDAY — FEBRUARY 12-TH, HOWEVER, IF ANY REMAINS ARE FOUND WHILE THE WRECKAGE IS getting REMOVED — WORK WILL IMMEDIATELY STOP.

COLONEL FRANCIS PERA, THE COMMANDER OF THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS’ BALTIMORE DISTRICT SAID QUOTE “THE DIGNIFIED RECOVERY OF MISSING FLIGHT PASSENGERS AND PERSONNEL TAKES PRECEDENCE” OVER THEIR TIME LINE.

ON SUNDAY,  AN EMOTIONAL SCENE,  AS FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS, gathered for a memorial ON THE RUNAWAY AT THE AIRPORT, AT THE EDGE OF THE POTOMAC RIVER AND viewed the site WHERE THEIR LOVED ONES PASSED AWAY.