How many people died in American Airlines and helicopter crash? DC authorities say...

Hours after Potomac River witnessed a horrible mid-air helicopter-jet collision, authorities have given clear indication that any of the individuals involved in the unfortunate development surviving seems unlikely. The search and rescue operations are being revamped into a recovery operation to retrieve the mortal remains of the victims, US media reports said.

ALSO READ | Figure skaters plane crash: Air Traffic Control audio reveals how shocked tower reacted to Black Hawk-CRJ midair collision

According to latest data from Washington DC, 28 bodies have been recovered so far after a Bombardier CRJ700 flight operated by American Airlines crashed with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. While one of the recovered bodies belonged to a soldier on board the military chopper, the rest were of the passengers. The soldier's body was recovered from the debris of the helicopter, The Guardian said. 

The American Eagle Flight 5342 was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, AA said, adding that it was carrying American and Russian figure skaters who were returning from a training camp in Wichita, Kansas.

ALSO READ | American Airlines plane that collided with Black Hawk helicopter in Washington 'split in two and is in about 7 feet of water'

It was John Donnelly, the chief of Washington’s fire department, who told the press that his team believed finding anybody alive from the crash site was highly unlikely. During a press meet he confirmed that authorities were switching from a “search-and-rescue operation to a recovery operation.”

According to Donnelly, his team was confident that the mortal remains of all victims could be retrieved despite the inclement weather. Strong winds have caused the jet's debris to float and spread out across the river despite the presence of ice.  The operation may take longer than expected but the volunteer squads would not back off until the family members of all the departed souls get the chance to bid them farewell.  "It will take us a little bit of time. It may involve some more equipment,” John Donnelly was quoted as saying by The Guardian. 

ALSO READ | Figure skaters plane crash: Kanpur to Lyon, 5 times Bombardier CRJ700 made news for wrong reasons ahead of US mid-air collision

The ill-fated plane was identified as N530EA by the Federal Aviation Administration which was reportedly built in 2010. The 70-seater Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft are a mainstay in America's regional commercial aviation.