A riverkeeper from the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, Dean Naujoks, was granted permission on Thursday to take his motorboat near the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, approximately two miles (3.2 kilometers) downstream from a recent plane crash site. His patrol was part of an ongoing environmental and investigative effort following the tragic incident.
While navigating the river, Naujoks discovered that debris from the passenger plane had drifted with the wind and current, accumulating in shallow coves along the Maryland shoreline. Among the wreckage, he recovered several items, including a piece of the aircraft’s interior wall that had surrounded a window, pages from a flight manual, a woman’s sweater, and what appeared to be a pilot’s seat cushion. The recovered debris was later turned over to the FBI as part of the investigation.
Naujoks described the somber experience, noting that all the items were soaked in jet fuel. He reflected on the tragedy, stating that handling the personal belongings of passengers and crew members was an emotional moment. “I’m thinking of the people these things belonged to, and it’s a punch to the gut. It’s just a sad day on the river,” he said.
The search for additional wreckage and possible environmental impacts remains ongoing. Authorities continue to monitor the site for fuel spills and other hazards while federal investigators work to determine the cause of the crash.
