Plane's black boxes investigated as cause of deadly Washington DC crash.
A U.S. Coast Guard photo shows the wreckage of the crashed American Airlines plane in the foreground with Washington's Reagan National Airport in the background
Briefing
Investigators have recovered the flight data recorders, also known as black boxes, from an American Airlines plane that collided with a U.S. military helicopter on Wednesday near Washington, DC.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it has "a lot of information, but ... it needs time to verify" and that a preliminary report will be released within 30 days.
Details about some of the 67 people who died in the crash are now starting to emerge.
President Donald Trump expressed his condolences, saying Thursday that "our hearts are broken" by the tragedy.
Trump has lashed out at diversity rules under his predecessors, saying he believes people hired for air traffic control positions are not always qualified — but has provided no evidence of this.
In a video clip, air traffic controllers can be heard asking helicopter crews if they can see the plane.
02:15
Ros Atkins on... Washington DC plane crash
Live report
Edited by Olatunbosun Ibrahim. THERE
Helicopter pilot and crew chief named
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Pilot Andre Eaves was aboard the helicopter that collided with the plane, his wife says
The identities of two of the three people aboard the Black Hawk involved in the crash have been released, the identity of the third person is not yet known.
Pilot Andrew Eaves of Mississippi has been named by his wife, Carrie, as one of the helicopter victims. She asks for "peace while we mourn."
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said the state is "mourning the loss of Brooksville's local warrant officer, Andrew Eaves." For context, a warrant officer provides leadership and training in his specialty.
Ryan O'Hara, 29, was the crew chief of the Black Hawk helicopter, according to CBS News.
He leaves behind a wife and a 1-year-old son, his Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) group said in a social media post confirming his death.
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