Tim Pierce

All right, those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com. And in case you missed it this morning, we covered some important stories, including the recovery operation in the Potomac and the contentious confirmation hearings. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.

Well, recovery operations are now into a third day. The belief is that there are no survivors from the crash. And the goal now is to recover the bodies of all the victims. 64 people were on the plane and three soldiers were in the helicopter. So all 67 are sadly now presumed dead. Here's President Trump giving an update on the crash in a press conference at the White House on Thursday.

Well, recovery operations are now into a third day. The belief is that there are no survivors from the crash. And the goal now is to recover the bodies of all the victims. 64 people were on the plane and three soldiers were in the helicopter. So all 67 are sadly now presumed dead. Here's President Trump giving an update on the crash in a press conference at the White House on Thursday.

Well, the plane reportedly broke into three parts, and one or more of the segments landed upside down in waist-deep water. The helicopter also landed in water. Divers have been attempting to retrieve victims from inside the fuselage, many of whom are still buckled in their seats. But there have also been human remains removed from other locations in the river.

Well, the plane reportedly broke into three parts, and one or more of the segments landed upside down in waist-deep water. The helicopter also landed in water. Divers have been attempting to retrieve victims from inside the fuselage, many of whom are still buckled in their seats. But there have also been human remains removed from other locations in the river.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that the American Airlines Flight 5342 was originally slated to land on Runway 1, one of DCA's longest runways, but the control tower diverted them to Runway 33. In order to make that work, the pilots had to deviate slightly from their path. They collided with the helicopter just seconds later.

The New York Times reported on Thursday that the American Airlines Flight 5342 was originally slated to land on Runway 1, one of DCA's longest runways, but the control tower diverted them to Runway 33. In order to make that work, the pilots had to deviate slightly from their path. They collided with the helicopter just seconds later.

Now, this is a recording of air traffic control as they witnessed the collision.

Now, this is a recording of air traffic control as they witnessed the collision.

This has raised larger questions about the amount of traffic congestion around Reagan. In a White House presser, Trump suggested that the air traffic controllers, as well as the pilots of the Black Hawk helicopter, may have been at fault.

This has raised larger questions about the amount of traffic congestion around Reagan. In a White House presser, Trump suggested that the air traffic controllers, as well as the pilots of the Black Hawk helicopter, may have been at fault.

The FAA did reveal that the number of air traffic controllers on duty at the time of the crash was not normal for the quantity of aircraft, with a single controller monitoring both planes and helicopters. Trump also seemed to imply that lower standards as a result of the Biden administration's DEI policies might have played a role.

The FAA did reveal that the number of air traffic controllers on duty at the time of the crash was not normal for the quantity of aircraft, with a single controller monitoring both planes and helicopters. Trump also seemed to imply that lower standards as a result of the Biden administration's DEI policies might have played a role.

That said, the investigation has really just gotten started and no definitive evidence has come out yet. And that was the message of officials with the National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday as well. The NTSB is ultimately responsible for investigating the crash, and they said in a press briefing that they haven't determined anything for certain.

That said, the investigation has really just gotten started and no definitive evidence has come out yet. And that was the message of officials with the National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday as well. The NTSB is ultimately responsible for investigating the crash, and they said in a press briefing that they haven't determined anything for certain.

but they need to verify a lot of information before they can give facts to the public.

but they need to verify a lot of information before they can give facts to the public.

Yeah, we've learned that about a third of the passengers were either figure skating athletes or coaches or their family members. According to U.S. Figure Skating, they were all on a return trip from a competition in Wichita. Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan broke down while talking about the tragedy at the skating club of Boston, which lost members in the crash.

Yeah, we've learned that about a third of the passengers were either figure skating athletes or coaches or their family members. According to U.S. Figure Skating, they were all on a return trip from a competition in Wichita. Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan broke down while talking about the tragedy at the skating club of Boston, which lost members in the crash.

The Kremlin reported there were Russians on board the flight as well, including former world figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Namov. President Trump said Thursday their bodies will be returned to Russia.