(NewsNation) — As officials continued their search and recovery operation after an American Airlines regional jet collided with a military helicopter while preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., more than two dozen bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River.

The jet was carrying 64 people while the helicopter had three aboard. It appears all involved were killed, which would make this the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly 24 years. Authorities were continuing to search for remains on Thursday.

D.C. fire and EMS chief John A. Donnelly said during a news conference Thursday that he's confident all of the bodies from the crash will ultimately be recovered.

Here's what we know about those who were aboard the aircraft.

Crew members killed in DC plane crash

First Officer Sam Lilley was one of the crew members killed in the crash, his father, Tim Lilley, confirmed to NewsNation.

Sam Lilley was a pilot for PSA, which is owned by American Airlines. He was a native of Richmond Hill, Georgia, Nexstar's WSAV has learned.

• First Officer Sam Lilley was one of those killed when a passenger jet collided with a helicopter. (Tim Lilley)
• First Officer Sam Lilley was one of those killed in the plane crash. (Tim Lilley)

“I was so proud when Sam became a pilot,” Tim Lilley wrote in WSAV. “Now it hurts so bad I can’t even cry myself to sleep. I know I’ll see him again but my heart is breaking."

Flight attendant Ian Epstein was also aboard the flight, his wife, Debi, confirmed to Nexstar's WJZY.

"He died doing what he loved," Epstein said Thursday, adding that her husband had switched careers five years ago so he could travel the world. Their daughter is set to get married in just eight weeks.

Two of the flight attendants on board were members of the Association of Flight Attendants-Communications Workers of America, the union confirmed. A relative of a CWA staff member was also killed in the crash.

Other members of the flight crew have not yet been identified, but officials confirmed to WJZY that it was a Charlotte, North Carolina-based flight crew.

Three soldiers who were doing night training

The bodies of all three soldiers who were on the helicopter have been recovered, officials say. Their remains will be at Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. That office coordinates the dignified transfer of fallen service members, officials told the Associated Press.

The three soldiers were doing an annual night proficiency training flight, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, adding they were a “fairly experienced crew.” Officials were notifying relatives, he said.

The U.S. Army identified two of three aboard the Blackhawk as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland.

"Mississippi is mourning the loss of Brooksville native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, who was killed in last night’s accident at Reagan National Airport," Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement. "Elee and I are praying for the victims’ families and first responders who are assisting."

As of Friday, the Army has not identified the third soldier at the request of the family.

Students, parents from Virginia schools

Three students from schools in Fairfax County, Virginia and six parents from the district were on board the plane, superintendent Michelle Reid said in a letter to families. She did not identify them, but said the........

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