Officials said the bodies of several victims remain in the plane's fuselage and their "dignified" removal is a main priority.

An American Airlines regional jet went down in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after colliding with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, Wednesday night, prompting a multi-agency search-and-rescue operation, according to officials.

The Army Corps said it is first salvaging the jet — which still is believed to have bodies in it — and afterward, it will recover the fallen Black Hawk.