USA

Recovered US Army Black Hawk involved in crash taken to secure location for investigators

Watch: Wreckage from Black Hawk helicopter and plane collision pulled from Potomac river

The wreckage of the US Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in a crash with an American Airlines passenger plane has been recovered.

Recovered on Thursday, the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk wreckage was offloaded from a barge and taken to a secure location for investigators.

There is a continued effort to find the right engine and tail rotor from the helicopter, said National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials.

The NTSB investigates every civil aviation accident in the US and significant accidents in other modes of transportation.

Based on their investigative findings and special studies, the board makes recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.

In a statement, the NTSB said: "In coordination with the Naval Sea Systems Command Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), offloaded from a barge the wreckage of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk involved in the Jan. 29 mid-air collision over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport."

The NTSB recovers the debris of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk — Authorities with the NTSB, in coordination with SUPSALV, recover the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, along the Potomac River (Picture: NTSB)

"The wreckage will be placed in a secure hangar at DCA for layout and inspection by investigators," said the NTSB.

Additionally, the NTSB said that investigators from the helicopter operations group had been at the US Davison Army Airfield to examine an exemplar Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.

"Investigators want to compare switch and other settings from the accident helicopter," said NTSB

The statement added: "Investigators documented the right wing of the CRJ and recovered its exterior lights, which were sent to NTSB laboratories. Investigators now plan to document the airplane's left wing.

NTSB recovers the debris of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk — The Black Hawk was recovered to a barge in the Potomac River on February 6 (Picture: NTSB)

On Tuesday, US officials said that members of the US Coast Guard and other personnel involved in removing the wreckage of the American Airlines passenger plane and the US Army Black Hawk helicopter were being provided with 24/7 access to psychological first aid.

In a press conference, US officials said they were preparing to find more remains as they recover more aircraft wreckage and will be focusing on the cockpit.