BALTIMORE — Maryland crews were called in to help with search and recovery operations following a deadly aircraft collision over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport.
Wednesday night's tragic crash involved a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342, which took off from Wichita, Kansas headed for Arlington, Virginia.
Reports indicate 60 passengers and four crew members were aboard the plane, while at least three people were in the helicopter.
All are presumed dead.
"Sadly, there are no survivors," President Donald Trump said Thursday morning. "This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation's capital and in our nation's history."
About 40 bodies have been recovered so far, including a Georgia soldier named Ryan O'Hara, who was riding in the helicopter.
Dive teams have reportedly called off the search for more victims to avoid moving the fuselage.
Officials say unaccounted for remains will need to be extracted from the wreckage once lifted to the river's surface.
They warned some victims may not be recovered due to a fireball created by the crash.
The U.S. military said the Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, based out of Davison Army Airfield, in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was on a training exercise when the crash occurred.
ABC News confirmed Samuel Lilley as the first officer piloting the American flight.
His sister, Tiffany Gibson, told ABC their father, Timothy, a retired Army veteran, used to fly Black Hawk helicopters over the Potomac River.
Gibson says Samuel was newly engaged.
"He was so young, and he was excited about life and his future and getting a dog and a house and kids," Gibson told the outlet. "And it's just, this is just tragic."
ABC also identified an American Airlines flight attendant named Ian Epstein.
"He was a father, a stepfather, a husband and a brother! He will be truly missed," his family said in a statement.
The International Skating Union released names of several figure skaters, coaches, family members, and friendsaboard the flight.
Russian figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were among the passengers.
The pair won World Championships in 1993, and competed in the 1992 and 1994 Olympics, and were now serving as coaches.
The Skating Club of Boston confirmed Jinna Han and her mother, Jin, along with Spencer Lane, and his mom, Christine, were traveling in the air as well.
Coaches Alexandr "Sasha" Kirsanov and Evgenia Shishkova were on the plane too, ABC reports.
Sasha spent time coaching at Ice World in Harford County.
Olivia Ter, a 12-year-old figure skater who the Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County described as "a beloved member of [the] Tucker Road Ice Rink," was also killed.
Then there's Andrew Beyer who sadly lost his wife, Justyna, and 12-year-old daughter, Brielle, in the crash.
All were returning from the National Development Camp and U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Kansas.
The event is the final qualifier for the U.S. World and Junior Championship teams.
Other passengers identified include Elizabeth Keys, of Ohio, and Wendy Jo Shaffer, of North Carolina.
Divers from Maryland State Police, Prince George’s County, Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County, and Natural Resources were deployed to assist in search efforts.
Newly appointed County Executive Tara Jackson said debris from the crash reportedly spread into Prince George’s County.
As result the plaza and piers at National Harbor closed Thursday.
In addition, Governor Wes Moore enhanced the status of Maryland's Emergency Management Operations Center.
Reagan Airport is expected to be closed until at least 5am Friday. Current operations at BWI Airport are normal.
We're told there were about 10 inbound diversions from Reagan National Airport Wednesday night after the crash.
The NTSB is the lead investigating agency. They said both black boxes from the plane have been seized. A preliminary report is expected in 30 days.
While the cause of the crash remains unclear, Trump on Thursday blasted past hiring practices of the Federal Aviation Administration.
One air traffic controller was doing the work of two people, according to an internal report obtained by The Associated Press.
Shortly after his remarks, Trump appointed Christopher Rocheleau, a 22 year FAA veteran, as Acting Commissioner.
