BALTIMORE (TND) — The search for the six people missing after Tuesday morning's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore is over. It was replaced with a new recovery phase as of 7:30 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard announced.
The change was based on the amount of time those people would've been in the cold water, and doubts they will be found alive.
There are also concerns about the safety of first responders, considering the amount of bridge structure debris in the water.
The six people still unaccounted for were part of a construction company filling potholes on the bridge, Paul Wiedefeld, the state's transportation secretary, said earlier.
A senior executive at the company that employed the construction workers said Tuesday afternoon that they were presumed dead, given the water’s depth and the length of time since the crash.
During Tuesday's news conference, Gov. Moore thanked first responders who arrived on the scene in the overnight hours and have "not stopped" since. He said their efforts have been "truly remarkable."
“These are individuals who in the middle of the night, jumped into some very challenging environments, some very challenging territories and have not stopped in their quest of making sure that each and every person is seen and supported and lifted up,” Moore said.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged families affected by the collapse.
"We should also recognize that this is an excruciating day for several families who went to bed last night having it be a normal night and woke up today to news that no one wants to receive," said Buttigieg.
Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin said that reopening the Patapsco River channel is critical to the state's economy.
No specific or credible information suggests "ties to terrorism" in a Tuesday morning press briefing, according to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
Moore said that as many as 20 people and several vehicles had fallen into the Patapsco River, and a tractor-trailer was on the bridge when the cargo vessel hit a support pillar.
"The preliminary investigation points to an accident. We haven't seen any credible evidence of a terrorist attack," he told reporters during a news conference. The bridge was "fully up to code" and had no structural issues.
The U.S. Coast Guard said it received a report into the Coast Guard Sector Maryland command center at 1:27 a.m. about a 948-foot Singapore-flagged containership collided with the bridge.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedfeld told reporters during a mid-morning news conference that eight people were on the bridge when it collapsed and two people are unaccounted for -- one is in the hospital, one refused medical treatment and the others are being searched for. The six missing are presumed to be construction workers.
All crew members of the cargo ship are uninjured and accounted for.
Sonar data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicated the water temperature was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the ship lost power, crews were able to issue a "mayday" before hitting the bridge which allowed authorities to stop traffic and "save lives," Moore added.
"We're thankful that between the 'mayday' and collapse that we had officials who were able to begin the stop the flow of traffic so more cars were not up on the bridge," he said.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy provided an update Tuesday afternoon and said the organization will lead the investigation into the Singapore-registered DALI vessel while the U.S. Coast Guard offers support.
"Under our memorandum of understanding with the Coast Guard, the NTSB is leading the investigation. The Coast Guard will support this investigation," Homendy told reporters.
A "go team" was launched earlier Tuesday to investigate the incident and consists of technical experts and specialists across the agency on rotational duty assignment to respond as quickly as possible.
Homendy noted a team of 24 experts will look into nautical operations, vessel operations, safety history records, owners, operators, company policy and any safety management systems or programs.
She added that search and rescue is still underway and not many details about what happened will be shared yet.
"The NTSB doesn’t speculate, we provide facts," Homendy said. "So there isn't a lot we can share right now because the focus has been on the people."
While officials with NTSB did not board the ship during the search and rescue operation to avoid interference, Homendy said the engineering team is trying to get the recorder available on the ship. NTSB will also look into if and when the ship dropped anchor.
Parts of the investigation will also include how the collapsed bridge was constructed and whether it has ever been flagged for any safety issues.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced flight restrictions were put in place and warned aircraft not to fly near the wreckage.
"Drone pilots: The FAA has flight restrictions in place around the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse," the FAA posted on X. "Do not interfere with rescue operations. If you fly, emergency response operations cannot."
Gov. Moore declared a State of Emergency in Maryland shortly after the collision:
At 3 a.m., Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott said on X that he was on his way to the bridge. "Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway," he said.
President Joe Biden received a briefing on the bridge collapse ahead of his remarks on the incident.
A picture released by the White House shows Biden on the phone in the Oval Office with a large photo of the scene of the collapse behind him.
During his remarks, Biden reiterated that there is no indication the bridge collapse was intentional.
He also promised that the federal government would pay for the entire cost of rebuilding the bridge.
"It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge," Biden told reporters. "I expect the Congress to support my effort -- this is going to take some time."
When asked if he had plans to visit Baltimore, Biden said, "I do, and as quickly as I can."
Deputy Defense Secretary Sabrina Singh said during a Pentagon briefing that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commanding General Scott A. Spellmon has been in touch with the Port of Baltimore.
"Obviously, it is very early in the process, but I can tell you that the commanding general of the US Army Corps of Engineers has been in touch with the Port of Baltimore, and the department is remaining in close contact with local and state officials, and stands ready if any assistance is required," Singh said.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said officials are closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds.
"We are closely monitoring the tragic situation unfolding as a result of a containership colliding with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore," Mayorkas wrote on X. "Our thoughts are with the families of the missing and injured."
Mayorkas also noted that the U.S. Coast Guard, state and local partners were on the scene and are "actively involved in search and rescue operations."
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he spoke with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott Tuesday morning to offer support from the USDOT.
"Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response," Buttigieg wrote on X.
Wiedefeld said during a morning news conference that authorities are trying to find alternative transport options for approximately 35,000 people who use the bridge every day.
FBI Baltimore said they will continue to support their partners at the local, state and federal levels during the investigation.
"Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this tragedy, especially to the victims and their families," William DelBagno with the FBI Baltimore Field Office said. "On behalf of the FBI, I would like to say we are with you and with the families involved."
The Francis Scott Key Bridge opened in 1977 and is named after the author of "The Star-Spangled Banner," according to the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA).
The Port of Baltimore handled more than 52 million tons of international cargo worth over $80 billion in 2023, the Maryland government's website reports.
It was the 20th biggest port in the nation last year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
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Editor's note: WBFF contributed to this report.
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