welcome to world news america. live here at the national airport just live here at the national airportjust edges of airportjust on the edges of dc. thank you for operations are underway following the worst aviation 64 people were onboard the american airlines flight

but first — here's the bbc�*s north america editor sarah smith. put the and the helicopter crashed in the the american airline was inverted and it's been located in three different and it's in threedifferentsectibns and it�*s in deep water so that is waist deep water so that recovery is going to go on today. it going to go on today. overnight, it searches for _ going to go on today. overnight, it searches for a _ going to go on today. overnight, it searches for a - survivors i

searches fer a pessible survive-rs might�*ve been in the water. 7 water. as water. as came, it clear everyone had was clear'that'everyons'had last �* lives. was clear'that'everyons'had last �*lives. 60 was clear'that'everyons'had last �* lives. 60 and four their lives. 60 passengers and four crew on american airlines, three soldiers of the blackhawk army helicopter. we soldiers of the blackhawk army helico ter. ~ . soldiers of the blackhawk army helic0pter-— soldiers of the blackhawk army helicoter. ~ . , . ., helicopter. we are switching from a rescue operation _ helicopter. we are switching from a rescue operation to _ rescue operation to recovery operation. at this point, =,.,,.saaai;¥,;?77 if there any survivors know if there any survivorsang�* we' - recovered 27 know if there any survivors and we recovered 27 people from the and one fromie 7 7 77 w "and” rm. plane and one from the helicopter. cctv _ plane and one from the helicopter. cctv pictures show the moment and low in the sky in impact and low in the sky in washington, dc, the �*and washingtonfijfigt'he'heticooter and” plane are washingtonfijfift�*he'heticooter and” plane are headed the plane are rapidly headed towards each other and can see the explosion. we see the crash quite clearly. in the cockpit was 28—year—old american airlines pilot sam lily. his father said he started his training six years ago and was to be on board engaged to be married. also on board was wendy schaefer, wife and mother

children are just one and whose children are just one and three years old. a married couple of world figure skating from world championfigure skating from " were flying with other that 7 t that have been coaching in 7777 vase to yeast to downtown7 k§.fl$§5.-,y.ef¥ close to downtown and savannah skyline, the washington and savannah skyline, the can still be seen wreckage can still be seen from the ic potomac a d7istressi ng a d7istressing site for nearby river, a distressing site for nearby residents. , ., , , ., residents. everyone is distraught and, residents. everyone is distraught and. yeah. _ residents. everyone is distraught and. yeah. it's — residents. everyone is distraught and, yeah, it's been _ residents. everyone is distraught and, yeah, it's been shocking - 7 77 7 7i- 'u7t7doesn7t7 7 7 77 77 ut 7 fee7li -7t everyone_ affa%ea%§j§fifl .,.., | i iii! everyone_ affa%ea%§j§fifl .,.., i m i the smaller 'ets because i fly the smallerjets and one was coming in and i see that one was coming in and i see the all the time coming here and 7 here and i 7 here and i see murray in one through here and i see murray in one constantly going back and forth to andrews —— marine. itjust shocking, 77 control control is the accident :;: eiflf’pi ll; ixxljfs

in the investigation is already way into how this accident under way into how this accident could have occurred in a clear night both aircraft or following when both aircraft or following standard flight patterns. military fly around all the time in this washington allthe time in this was on the training president 7 president trump 7 president trump asked77for a flight. president trump asked for a moments silence for a tragedy "ame-“- ails-ears far a “me“ " "7 ,,, , '7 ~ 7' proportions 7 quickly terrible proportions before'guickly' equal opportunity policies �*7control. 7 �*77cr hiring plans, thihki 7a hiring plans, think of inclusion hiring plans, think of that, — inclusion hiring plans, think of that, the — inclusion hiring plans, think of that, the is part of the that, the initiative is part of the faa diversity and inclusion plan which _ faa diversity and inclusion plan which this— faa diversity and inclusion plan which this is integral to wlugtbls diversity isintegral to faa's of safe and achieving faa's mission of safe and - travel, _ achieving faa's mission of safe and - travel, i_ achieving faa's mission of safe and travel, i don't think so. ijil -est is the my biases! is the e my biases! is the "eavesall mink paige f my biasest is the "boosts think paige come to the and it is just

and it isjust common and it is just common sense apparently, no evidence been connect 7 connect diversity presented to'tonnett diversity with this or any air policies with this or any air accident. the transport safety board want everyone to wait for the facts of their the conclusion of their investigation.— the conclusion of their investigation. the conclusion of their investiuation. �* , ., investigation. it'snotthatwe investigation. it'snotthat . ~ have investigation. it'snotthatwe - have information, - investigation. it'snotthatwe - have information, we i investigation. it'snotthag g | - have information, we do don't have information, we do have we have data and we information, we have data and we have substantial amounts of we to verify and we need to 7 and we need to take to make sure it is accurate and time to make sure it is accurate and that it's for you and important the families 7 the families and important for for the families and important for legislators who are seeking answers 77try figure 7 77try figure out 7 77try figure out what 7 77try figure out what they are to try and figure out what they are going to do about this.— going to do about this. but this trauic going to do about this. but this tragic accident _ going to do about this. but this tragic accident looks _ going to do about this. but this tragic accident looks like - going to do about this. but this tragic accident looks like it - going to do about this. but thisj tragic accident looks like it may one more in the become one more battleground in the political and cultural wars in america. 7 77 'developments 777 7 77 777 77777 7 7777 77 7 77 'developments 7 77 the 777 77777 7 7777 7 7 ' .. 'developments " the "f ’ ' ' what ' ., 'developments " the "f ’ ' ' what the ' w 'developments " the 'w ’ ' ' what the on the

day. what is the latest on the investigation a lot of given a 7 given a little earlier the 7 given a little earlier the 7i7\itsb. iven a little earlier the 7i7\itsb. i en a little earlier —_ _77earlier ;m big the sleet business be the he? business here at he the mme business here at the airport back to business here at the airport and lots planes flying in and and lots of planes flying in and out but if you're a as normal but if you're a passenger on any of those planes was not normal is you look out the window and you see the and you can still see the blackhawk american airlines have submerged and american airlines have submerged the icy frigid of the m operation me is very under behind me is verymo�*ch underwayand'" ' " though no one has survived, even though no one has survived, bodies are still being recovered and 777bl7ackha7wk777 777bl7ackha7wk7in7th7e7 7 77 7 77 blackhawk in the77 airport is the blackhawk in the airport is saying, this is still very much an recovery -eeiei ongoing recovery operation and in terms of the terms of investigations, the national transportation board national transportation safety'board' in the report says they have a

and in the report says they have a lot of information they need to get —:7 to verify 7 to verify it 7 7 to verify it and they 7 threeghtoeer’ifyit and they haee covered the threegh'te'eerityit and they have covered the flight data and not covered the flight data and the black boxes which will give us a �* what 7 �*what 7 in sense of what happened in those final minutes and they plan to preliminary reports in z -::= z -77: days' but they have also pian take their said that they plan to take their time with and they want to time with it and they want taverify information and even though = -7 trump louis 7 trump louis seems to have president trump louis seems'to have" the prejudge the investigation already said what he thinks may have caused the collision the safety the collision and the safety board and speculating it wants and speculating that it wants to make sure that the is make sure that the investigation is carefully done. _ carefully done. 7222??? efforts that are still recovery efforts that are still in the river and do we know ongoing in the river and do we know if that's progressing we have if that's progressing and we have heard some of the bodies have been already. any update there?

recovered already. any update there? coming up to 2a hours since it's coming up to 2a hours since the collision bear in mind, we know 'cottision'and bear'in'mind: we'know �* cold it 'cottision'and bear'in'mind: we'know �*cold it and overnight, last 'cottision'and bear'in'mind: we'know �*c: it it and overnight, last 'cottision'and bear'in'mind: we'know �*c: it it below rernight, last 'cottision'and bear'in'mind: we'know �*c: it it below freezing last 'cottision'and bear'in'mind: we'know �*c: it it below freezing the: 7 and 7 7 and and77risk operation and_recov,ery, and risk was very slow in the operation was very slow in the waters accord, it's difficult waters accord, murky, it's difficult to navigate and i imagine that z-�*== the 7same 7 the 7same situation77today = -: the recovery has 7 the recovery has been use? . 7777317177537; as... as... 7 7 77al7ld7ay7b7ut777 7777 777 7 7 777al77l77d7a7y7b7ut777b7ei717i77n77t7i7 777 7 7 773171673; mam... 777 7 7 773171673; stem... and happening all day but behind me and looking around, emergency crews are around and perhaps flashing and all those on the are those on the tarmac are scouring for any evidence in the mention of black boxes which have yet to be recovered recovery operation is in the recovery operation is still very ongoing the moment.

very much ongoing at the moment. thank you �* bringing us up to date thank you for bringing us up to date and you have been seen from 7 pictures, the 7 7 pictures, the river potomac the pictures, the river potomac flowing in around washington, on 7 oh both 7 7 oh both of 7 7 oh both of the 7 7 oh both of the rivei’7 and htfitt a" both sides of the “it's“ eetlm' ~ ~' ,,, people b," "t be“ ”3? *t the rite eet�*m " w ,., people had caught �*of this midair collision as it abadi ismail — had a bird's eye view from his apartment, when the collision happened. within �*view of within �* view of was within �*view of was going on, they were all within meeting points and right around 8:15pm last night, i was getting ready to go to bed l was gettiheereeey te es te bed i , l was gettiheereeey te es te bed i hear l was gettiheereedy te dd te bed i hear a l was gettihgereedy te gs te bed i hear a loud bang l was gettihgereedy ts gs ts bed i hear a loud bang bang l was gettihgereedy ts gs ts bed i heara loud bang bang and when i hear a loud bang bang and within seconds apart from something can only other, something you can only witness in movie theatre, 7 7 77i 557.5713 my 7

i could only witness a something i could only witness and a war zone but nothing like this. i war zone but nothing likethis. ! around to look jmmediately turned around to basket— windowjust jmmediately turned around to basket— window just to see what jmmediately turned around to basket— windowjust to see what is the ceihdsstiest ts eeewhatrs ' ~ .,, .. ,,, . outside the ceihdsstjest ts eeewhatrs ' ~ .,, .. ,,, . outside and the etihdeecjest ts eeewhatrs ' ~ .,, .. ,,, . outside and the only thing could see or i saw that -oint was i could see or i saw that point was just smoke. my thinking process at i could see or i saw that point was just smok was y thinking process at i could see or i saw that point was just smok was that rking process at i could see or i saw that point was just smok was that we g process at i could see or i saw that point was just smok was that we just ocess at i could see or i saw that point was just smok w. some we just ocess at i could see or i saw that point was just smok w. some we oftocess at i could see or i saw that point was just smok w. some we of power at experienced some sort of power plant shutdown a military at the base? never, i base? never,7 i thought that military base? never, i thought that we would have a crash, plane crash we wsuld have a ereehfa etane' crash with a �* at colliding with a helicopter at reagan airport. you start wonder reagan airport. you start to wonder was the military helicopter equipped missiles to make with missiles to make the sound louder? is horrifying, devastating and all kinds of goose bumps, i couldn't sleep. the families are still bein:

couldn't sleep. the families are still being informed _ couldn't sleep. the families are still being informed i their - still being informed of their identities this but let's identities this afternoon but let's have a being athletes, coaches and family members involved with us figure skating. laura scott reports now the impact of the crash, on the tight knit skating community. brimming with enthusiasm at a training camp for the figure among them the teenager spencer lane, a regional champion full of promise and passion. 0nly yesterday he said a national development but this picture was the last he posted. confirming, tragically, what many within the figure skating community had feared — that he had been on board flight 5342. jinna han. and coaches, according to the skating club of boston,

two coaches, two teenage athletes, and the athletes' moms. this will have long reaching impacts for our skating community. they'd been helping to develop young skaters in boston since 2017. athletes, and spoke of their unimaginable grief, amid reports skating. even when it's hard,

you get back up. you get back up and move forward. of those who have been lost and their loved ones. - tributes paid today at the european figure skating championships in estonia, championships in estonia, is the sport reflects on lives is the sport reflects on lives and talent taken too soon. and talent taken too soon. laura scott, bbc news. lies ahead in the what lies ahead in the investigation and i want to bring in a wto p and i want to bring in a wto p anchoran anchor expert in train pilot. and i want to bring in a wto p anchor an expert and i want to bring in a wto p anchoran expert in and i want to bring in a wto p anchor an expert in train pilot. joining me now is dan ronan wtop anchor, aviation expert, commercial pilot and trained air safety investigator what do you think the what do you think is the starting point for this investigation, the point for this investigation, the key point that they will be looking key point that they will be looking

at based on we know at based on what we know so far? will probably start with the audio tapes from the air traffic controllers and that is key. a couple of key points is that we listen to the tapes last night

couple of key points is that we listen to the tapes last�* and t helicopter corridor four and very frequently by helicopter pilots take 7 7 take vi7ps 7 take vi7ps to 7 take vi7ps to the pentagon to the force base and up 7 force base and up and77down air fsree base and spend dew-hike the altitude 777 very very precise and 200 feet and are very precise and 200 feet and that this case, the helicopter higher than that and more than :-—= feet according to feetaccording to the radar 300 feet according to the radar , and are 100 feet, it's a ”tars; 777deal7butit7777777 deal but it potentially bis eeeieetrte heterfitefltrefis at a low altitude such catastrophic. at a low altitude such as this and in a very congested 100 feet is a big deal airspace, 100 feet is a big deal think the faa and the others they think the faa and the others involved in this, they're going to look very closely and want to z 7 the black theblackhawk 777 7t7h7eblackhawkwas 7 7t7h7e7bl752r7

[an mm! rm mm: the7 777th7e7 7777o7f 77 7 7th7e7 as; 77 the7 of the river there as on the inside of the river there as well. people see these helicopters flying as you but 7 7777 speaking 7 spea7king, everyone safely and safely a nd close safely and close to other. ely and close to other. the have to because it eeeb mw” a 2252! m” a ve 2252! $2925— . a very cdngested i gash “he ' " a very congested airspace each “he ' " a very congested airspace and is a very congested airspace and it's gotten even more difficult it's gettenrevemmgrerdifiicuit no it's gettenrevemmgrerdifficuit no fault it's gettenrevemmgrerdifficult no fault of but through no fault of anyone�*s but because of the world we live in an after 9/11, the faa made some very, 7 z strict about 5 very strict decisions about airspace requirements around the dc 551-45353�*1; 53mg; mi 5515 dc area 55553534; snug? mi 5515 7 7 7 dc area tightening up a 72:22; 2 -=222 of the rules 77 77 of the rules in 77 77 of the rules in terms 77 of the rules in terms of 77 lot of the rules in terms of flying around the white house. the white house is just on the other of rizrer. the mdfihiflgfofl rieer. the iwatershingtan monument. the river, the washington monument, the river, the washington monument, the very close by the the pentagon very close by the states is a mile or ligited states capital is a mile or to the east and very restricted

and now we have some very real estate 5 real estate in j real estate in that j real estate in that area 5 valuable real estate in that area and the government had made a z- that we going to —§§ the 77 and they the and they did tighten up the airspace and they did they made the flying for and they made the flying for commercial pilots and for helicopter com mercial piletsa ndferfhelicepter. and the commercial piletsandfelhelicepter. and the like even commercial pilotsaodfonhelicopter. and the like even more 9/11, | _pportunity "7777777777777”, opportunity to fly that same an opportunity torflyrthat same before the american pilot was flying last airlines pilot was flying last night, this was 2001, march 2001. and it is as challenging as anything i've ever flown an aircraft. it is exceptionally and this 77 77 7 20 plus 77 77 20 plus years 77 77 20 plus years ago 77 77 20 plus years ago before it even is 20 plus years ago before it even some of the new restrictions in put some of the new restrictions in: the is a general there. the flight is a general aviation pilot which i am in the area dc, you have to take a area around dc, you have to take a test and pass the test with a very high score to be allowed to understand the airspace requirements dc and around the

around dc and around the area and so, they metropolitan dc area and so, they very stringent on the are esre =tflflaffl¥ffi fee” and efe eefe etf'fifiefiye’fi ee’e’” and so. requirements and rightfully so. but there's going be a lot of questions i suspect out of they'll there's going be a lot of questions i some t out of they'll there's going be a lot of questions i some changes they'll there's going be a lot of questions i some changes on they'll there's going be a lot of questions i some changes on airspace make some changes on airspace and probably tighten restrictions and probably—tighten up restrictions and probably—tighten up even more. find restrictions andprabablyti - up even more. restrictions andprababtyt—ig ~ - u- even more. �* ., ., ,, them up even more. and another issue bein: them up even more. and another issue being reported — them up even more. and another issue being reported - the _ them up even more. and another issue being reported - the new— them up even more. and another issue being reported - the new york - 77 and and our 77 and our editorials, cbs news, levels 7 7 ' ”hileivelsof” levels of air 7 7 levels of air traffic 7 staffing levels of air traffic cgntrollers. know there's been a controllers, we know there's been a staff shortage and it would appear controllers, we know there's been a staf the irtage and it would appear controllers, we know there's been a staf the term and it would appear controllers, we know there's been a staf the term being would appear controllers, we know there's been a staf the term being used d appear controllers, we know there's been a staf the term being used as ppear controllers, we know there's been a staf the term being used as the ar that the ternfbemg steed as the: was that the terhfbemg eeed as the was not at normal levels staffing was not at normal levels last night. what does that say to you, is that extremely concerning? it is and i think this could be a very �*area where a lot very another area where a lot of people involved and is in the air people involved andis in the air controllers netcool -e the investigation because they in the investigation because they bring expertise this as

bring expertise into this as well and there will be concern about and the—re'will be 'a concern about �* traffic control and we and the—re'will be 'a concern about �*traffic control and we have a shortage in this very serious shortage in this country and it's been going on for =— . than 40zyears the shortage air controllers air cohtrollers going 77 of air traffic controllers going to the reagan administration zézthey they �* quite they �*quite gotten up to and they never quite gotten up to the staffing levels that they need to be at the optimum strength and it is very stressfuljob. it causes ise veru stressful iob. lt faucet a ,, , ,, life expectancy is a very stressful iob. !t causef e ~ , ~ life expectancy studies have shorter life expectancy studies have shown and it is very difficult, shown 'and'it'is've'ry difficult; they a mandatory age in —ee of what 77 of what age 77 of what age you 77 of what age you have 77 of what age you have to 77 of what age you have to leave terms of what age you have to leave the job and find another career and so, it is very stressful, it is a great of responsibility and the great deal of responsibility and the faa is accelerating hiring faa is accelerating their hiring through like programmes through schools like embry riddle and others well and embry riddle and others as well and very valiantly. never been very valiantly. they�*ve’never been to get these numbers up to able to get these numbers up to g able to get these numbers up to 7 they need to and now, we have where theu need to and now we have ~ , , ~ — ~ , an accident where they need to and now we have ~ , , ~ — ~ , an accident with a heavy yyhere they need to and noyy yye haye ~ , , ~ — ~ , an accident with a heavy loss of had an accident with a heavy loss of life, tragic of life and had an accident with a heavy loss of life, tragi is of life and? , , ,,,

had an accident with a heavy loss of life, tragi is 0 he wanted , , , , , had an accident with a heavy loss of life, tragi is 0 he wanted the , , , , think this is what he wanted the areas that they're going to look into very closely. tote areas that they're going to look into very closely.— areas that they're going to look into very closely. we will wait for that report _ into very closely. we will wait for that report in _ into very closely. we will wait for that report in the _ that report in the preliminary reports due in 30 days' time. thank you much arejoining us on you very much arejoining us here on bbc news. nominees faced tough questioning from us senators. hearings on thursday. to serve as fbi director.

in a combative exchange, mr patel carefully avoided the fact that former us presidentjoe biden won the presidential let's have a listen. let�* are le a listen. let�* are soa listen. understand why i'm asking you, can you the why i'm asking you, can you say the words won the 2020 wordsjoe biden won the 2020 election? jae words joe biden won the 2020 election? ., �* words joe biden won the 2020 election? g ., �* ., , words joe biden won the 2020 election? ., �* ., , election? sulfides; 7 cc ofthe electionueestteei-7m7s—the election? shades of the united states. you president of the united states. you there's president of the united states. 7m. there's difference, i understand there's a'difference. i say understand there's a'difference, i say the donald i can say the words donald trump i don't like to say it but i must say it. you cannot say thatjoe biden won the election? i it. you cannot say that joe biden won the election?— it. you cannot say that joe biden won the election? 7— for both of them. both of their elections — for both of them. both of their

elections were certified and one was . 'r' i one now_ . 'r' i one now is — elections were certified and one was one now is president. the us intelligence committee. whistleblower edward snowden, and her meeting with exiled syrian

are you aware that your comments about proxy wars and russia's yes or no? senator. my goal is to. speak the truth, regardless i'll take it. that's fine. you said you are used to speaking truth to power. you are agreeing.

by a totalitarian state. and you were there at 11:30 pm and let me tell you something. russian propaganda. russian state tv then aired your comments. did you know that? criticising putin for his invasion of ukraine. and — robert f kenneder wrapped the second day of his confirmation hearing, with supporters and protestors the senate health committee largely focused on mr kennedy's record of promoting anti—vaccine theories. he refused to disavow previous comments he made linking enough data to do so. for his lack of trust

in scientific studies. another day, a very intense confirmation hearings on ” "nus""” 7 w hill as president ” "riiri'ss'pfésr'ééni donald capitol hill as president donald trump looks to fill all of those seeds around the table and seeds around the cabinet table and appeared at the white house today two ihis' " ' " ' two �*hiscabine’t' " ' two �* his cabinet secretaries with two of his cabinet secretaries who have already been confirmed in the defence secretary in the transportation secretary in the secretary lasting transportation secretary lasting than a day in the transportation secretary lasting thana dayin the in transportation secretary lasting than a day in the in this crash happened; crash happenedfin the potomac small away from the a small distance away from the runway here at the airport runway here at the national airport here in dc and heregigngwgashington; 5c; and that is hgergegignggashington; 5c; and that is ongoing and the investigation is ongoing and the recovery effort is ongoing in the behind me as nate is now in washington, dc making this fallen in washington, dc making this conditions all the more difficult fallen in washington, dc making this condit its all the more difficult fallen in washington, dc making this condit it is all the more difficult fallen in washington, dc making this condit it is very e more difficult fallen in washington, dc making this condit it is very dark re difficult fallen in washington, dc making this condit it is very dark and fficult fallen in washington, dc making this condit it is very dark and very, : again, it is very dark and very, cold and underwater as

yen; celd’andunde’rbatetiaef the” continues and help continues crisis continues and help continues to look for those bodies. hello. underneath a ridge of high pressure after a cold and frosty start, in off the irish sea. the north—west midlands, cheshire gap showers, really. and further north for shetland, orkney and fair isle, it's also been yery windy with gusts however, across the higher hills in scotland and northern england, it's rain that comes through. to around 4—6 degrees celsius as that cloud works in, but we'll still have a few areas of frost in north—east scotland

and south—east england. a lot of cloud behind that. eventually it will turn brighter and drier from the west as we go through the day. 0ur temperatures ranging from around six degrees in the east to around 9—10 in the mild west. weather front on the way. this one is running into high pressure to our east, there will be some damp weather around at times, with a fairly fresh wind across western areas. 0n into sunday, we have a better chance of seeing some sunshine no great rainfall accumulations expected through the course of this weekend. beyond that, we've got another

slow—moving weather front working in across the uk through monday and tuesday. hello.

just across the river from the nations capital. we are going to conduct a thorough investigation this is the scene as recovery efforts continue along the potomac river.