Following the midair crash of an American Airlines passenger plane with a Black Hawk military helicopter over the Potomac River on Wednesday night, José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen galvanized local chefs to feed the flurry of first responders conducting search and recovery operations on Thursday. They were joined by a riverboat cruise, Hornblower Group’s City Cruises Washington, which happened to be on the icy waterways last night when it was called to action.

All 67 people on board both aircraft are presumed dead. The unthinkable tragedy has shocked the nation’s capital and the country.

On Thursday, chef Matt Adler (Cucina Morini, Caruso’s Grocery) distributed meals on WCK’s food truck and fast-casual Rasa made lunches for emergency personnel who worked all through the night and into today.

Rasa

“We got the call early this morning from the WCK team and then moved quickly to mobilize,” Rasa co-founder Rahul Vinod tells Eater. The team arrived at Rasa’s Navy Yard location at 8:30 a.m. to prep and cook over 300 orders of its Tikka a Chance on Me and Aloo Need is Love bowls.

Vinod did the drops himself at three locations: D.C. police air support, the DCA fire station, and DCA operations. Other WCK partners helping feed responders included Alexandria, Virginia bakery Bread & Water and Lebanese Taverna.

D.C. Central Kitchen’s new headquarters in Buzzard Point sits right near the grave recovery site, which was surrounded by road closures around 4 a.m. The Metro Police Department made sure its usual meal deliveries got out this morning, says DCCK chief development officer Alexander Justice Moore. Soon after, DCCK pivoted to provide hundreds of free, hot lunches to a few nearby locations via a mobile delivery truck.

DC Central Kitchen

Craigslist founder Craig Newmark donated the truck to DCCK during the pandemic to prepare for emergencies like these. First responders received meals full of herb-roasted chicken, mac and cheese, roasted green beans, and butternut squash.

Today alone, DCCK says more than 120 people made online donations to help cover the costs of first responder meals. DCCK plans to return to Gravelly Point with hot meals for first responders tomorrow and as needed going forward, says Moore.

A spokesperson from Hornblower Group’s City Cruises Washington, D.C. tells Eater its crew continues to assist in the emergency response.

“We thank our Washington, D.C. and Alexandria based crews onboard the National Elite for their rapid response throughout the night,” per a statement from the team. Additional support from its Inner Harbor Spirit vessel will now help local and federal authorities in the search and recovery operation, and “we will continue to support in whatever means necessary. No words can adequately convey our sadness for the victims and their families.”