Sad News: King Charles ‘profoundly shocked and saddened’ by Washington plane crash….Read More

The King has said he is “profoundly shocked and saddened” by the Washington plane crash in a tribute to victims and emergency services.

He thanked first responders who “reacted so quickly” to the midair collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight, which killed 67 people.

In a message on Saturday night, he said: “My family and I have been profoundly shocked and saddened by the dreadful news of the tragic air accident in Washington DC, which has led to such a devastating loss of life.

“Our hearts, and our special thoughts, are with the people of the United States and our deepest possible sympathy goes to the families and loved ones of all the victims.

“I would also like to pay a particular tribute to the emergency responders who acted so quickly to this horrendous event.”

It comes as divers continued to search the Potomac River for remains and crucial evidence which might help answer why the army helicopter collided with the passenger jet at Washington’s Ronald Reagan airport.

Rescuers expect to recover all of the remains, though the wreckage of the plane’s main body will probably have to be pulled from the water to get all the bodies, fire chief John Donnelly Sr said.

Donald Trump has suggested the Army helicopter, which was conducting a training flight for a female pilot, was to blame for the crash because it was “flying too high”.

The details of the female soldier are still unknown after the Army made the highly unusual decision at the request of the family not to release her name.

The crew’s actions and the role of air traffic control are being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The investigations typically take at least a year, though investigators hope to have a preliminary report within 30 days.

At the time of the collision, one controller was managing traffic for both helicopters and planes, a job normally handled by two people, according to The New York Times. Staffing levels were “not normal”, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Other possible factors in the crash, including the helicopter’s altitude and whether the crew was using night-vision goggles, are still under investigation.