Over 40 bodies pulled from Potomac, some victims identified

Authorities continue searching for the bodies of 67 people killed on Wednesday when a commercial jetliner crashed into an Army Black Hawk helicopter. Search and rescue teams pulled 41 bodies from the Potomac, Washington D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly Sr. said at a Friday news conference. Officials identified 28 of the recovered bodies. Salvage crews expected to begin pulling a bulk of the wreckage from the river on Saturday which will help with recovery efforts, he added.

Who has been identified? Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that three soldiers were aboard the helicopter when it crashed. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves confirmed Thursday that Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves died in the crash. CBS also reported Ryan O'Hara as a helicopter crew chief who died in the accident. However, the U.S. military has not formally identified the soldiers involved in the crash.

Jonathan Campos was believed to be piloting the commercial jet, according to statements from his former university and flight school. Sam Lilley served as co-pilot on the fatal flight, an Atlanta news outlet reported, citing a statement from Lilley’s father. North Carolina flight attendants Ian Epstein and Danasia Elder were also killed in the crash, according to the Association of Flight Attendants.

Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe said several members of the skating community were killed in the crash, including two rising teen skaters and their mothers. Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, former figure skating world champions, were also on board with their son. Athletes, coaches, and family members were returning from a training camp held in Wichita, U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement.

The United Association trade union in Maryland also confirmed that five tradesmen were killed in the flight, a majority of whom were steamfitters. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont confirmed the death of local youth soccer volunteer coach Casey Crafton.

Two Chinese nationals were also on the doomed flight, according to a statement from China’s foreign affairs ministry. The Philippine National Police said Police Col. Pergentino Malabed was also killed in the crash.

Dig deeper: Read Josh Schumacher’s report on officials pulling the jet’s black box from the river.