US restricts helicopter flights after Washington crash, 41 bodies recovered

The Star

US authorities restricted helicopter flights near Reagan Washington National Airport indefinitely on Friday (Jan 31), after a midair collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter killed 67 people.   Officials said that 41 of the victims' bodies had been recovered by Friday.  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

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00:00U.S. authorities indefinitely restricted helicopter flights near Reagan National Airport on Friday

00:08after a mid-air collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter killed 67 people.

00:14The Federal Aviation Administration limited helicopter access to reduce collision risks

00:19as crews recovered wreckage from the Potomac River.

00:23Only police and medical helicopters were allowed near the airport and nearby bridges pending

00:28further evaluation.

00:30Officials said that by Friday, 41 victims' bodies had been recovered.

00:34We've identified 41, or we have recovered 41 sets of remains and 28 of those victims

00:40have been positively identified.

00:43And as of 6 a.m. this morning, next of kin notifications have been made to 18 families.

00:49We expect to recover all of the bodies.

00:51We have a, that's why our teams are still working.

00:55We're going to have to work with the salvage company to do some of that work.

00:58Donnelly said that moving the plane's submerged fuselage should provide better access to more

01:03bodies.

01:04Reagan National Vice President Terry Learke said two of the airport's three runways would

01:10likely remain closed for a week.

01:12He said the main runway, handling 90 percent of flights, is the busiest single runway in

01:17the U.S.

01:18The crash has raised concerns about air safety and a shortage of tower controllers at the

01:23congested airport serving the U.S. Capitol.

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