Crews were expected to recover the passenger jet's cockpit, though high wind gusts and tidal conditions could slow operations, said Col. Francis B. Pera of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is leading the multi-agency operation.

Authorities said the death is not related to the American Airlines and Black Hawk helicopter collision that happened on Wednesday night.

After an Army helicopter and American Airlines plane crashed into the Potomac River around Washington, D.C., a Virginia diver shared challenges of such a recovery effort.