Recovery teams are working diligently to retrieve wreckage from the Potomac River following Wednesday's tragic midair collision between a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and a Bombardier CRJ700 airliner. While 55 victims have been identified, the search continues for the remaining 12. D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly, Sr. expressed confidence in eventually recovering all victims, though their current locations remain unknown.

Colonel Francis Pera of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers anticipates a successful lift operation, with precautions in place to protect any recovered remains. The wreckage will be covered immediately upon surfacing and transported to a designated hangar for investigation. Divers equipped with HD cameras are meticulously surveying the underwater debris field, ensuring thorough examination of the wreckage.

Rescue and salvage crews retrieve a plane engine from the Potomac River. (AP/Jose Luis Magana)

Wreckage from the collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

NTSB investigators and salvage crew recover helicopter wreckage. (NTSB via AP)

Pera emphasized the importance of reuniting the victims with their families, highlighting the dedication of the teams involved. On Sunday, families visited the crash site to pay their respects. Chief Donnelly urged the public to report any discovered debris to 911 for proper handling and examination. Concurrent with the lift operation, shoreline searches will continue to ensure comprehensive debris collection.

Families of the victims gather near the wreckage site. (AP/Jose Luis Magana)