This story has been updated to clarify what we know about what Secretary Duffy meant by “communication.”
(NewsNation) — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed there was “communication” before an American Airlines flight and a military Black Hawk helicopter collided on Wednesday night.
The regional passenger jet was carrying 64 people en route from Kansas before crashing into a helicopter carrying three soldiers, sending both aircraft into the icy Potomac River near Washington, D.C.
Black Hawk knew plane was in area: Duffy
“I don’t want to say too much on the communication between the helicopter and the tower, and the airline and the tower, but I will say this: there was communication,” Duffy said in a news conference Thursday.
“It was, I would say, standard communication. So, there was not a breakdown … in communication between the military helicopter and the American Airlines flight.”
When quizzed further, Duffy reiterated there was communication between the aircraft and the tower, adding: “I would say the helicopter was aware there was a plane in the area.”
Plane, helicopter crash near DC
As of Thursday morning, at least 28 bodies had been recovered from the Potomac River. Crews fear there are no survivors, which would make it the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly 24 years.
The midair crash occurred shortly before 9 p.m. local time Wednesday, shutting down the airport until at least 11 a.m. Officials talked in terms of recovering the bodies of passengers rather than rescues.
People who believe they have family members on the flights and are looking for further information are asked to call 800-697-8215.
