President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that there were no survivors in the deadly midair collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, DC Trump criticized the helicopter pilot for not altering course, questioning why it didn’t go up or down to avoid the crash.
The crash, involving an American Airlines Bombardier jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, claimed the lives of all 67 people on board.
Speaking from the White House, Trump called it “an hour of anguish” for the nation.
“We are in mourning for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly,” he said. “This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history.”
The president also assured Americans that air travel remains safe, emphasizing that flying in the US is the safest in the world. “It’s been many years since something like this has happened, and we don’t expect it to ever happen again,” he said, adding that he wouldn’t hesitate to fly himself.
While the investigation into the crash is ongoing, the Republican President also indicated that pilot error on the helicopter may have played a role.
He criticised the Obama and Biden administrations for what he described as a “left-wing diversity push” that, in his view, excluded competent employees from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“I put safety first. Obama, Biden, and the Democrats put policy first,” Trump said during a press conference. “They actually came out with a directive: ‘too white.’ And we want people who are competent.”
President Donald Trump took to social media Thursday to criticize the response of air traffic control in the wake of the deadly midair collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter near Washington, DC.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed the airplane was on a “perfect and routine” approach to the airport, while the helicopter was “going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time.” He highlighted that it was a clear night and the plane’s lights were visible, questioning why the helicopter did not alter its course.
“Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn? Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane?” Trump wrote. “This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”
Trump’s remarks were made in contrast to official statements from aviation experts and transportation officials.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that both aircrafts had been operating within standard flight patterns, and there was no breakdown in communication prior to the crash. Air traffic controllers had alerted the helicopter to the approaching jet and ordered it to change course.
The wreckage of the Bombardier jet, operated by a regional subsidiary of American Airlines, was found protruding from the river’s surface, surrounded by emergency vessels and divers searching for more bodies. The Army Blackhawk helicopter, carrying three soldiers, was also recovered from the water.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the incident by grounding all planes at Reagan National Airport, with operations set to resume at 11:00 am (1600 GMT).
The collision occurred around 9:00 pm when the Bombardier jet, operated by an American Airlines subsidiary, collided with a Black Hawk helicopter on a training mission near Reagan Washington National Airport.
The jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three soldiers aboard. Rescue efforts quickly transitioned to recovery operations, with 28 bodies recovered as emergency responders worked in icy and windy conditions.
Although both aircraft were on standard flight patterns in clear weather, air traffic controllers had alerted the helicopter about the jet’s approach and instructed the helicopter to pass behind the plane. However, communication was cut off just before the crash.
Witnesses described seeing a stream of sparks from the plane after the collision, with one bystander stating that the aircraft appeared “lit up like a Roman candle.”
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a full inquiry to determine the cause of the crash, which has been described as the deadliest US air disaster in over two decades. The crash also raised concerns about airspace management in the Washington DC region, a busy area with multiple airports and military facilities.
Among the victims were athletes from the US Figure Skating community, including Russian-born world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, as well as their teenage students. The tragedy has deeply shaken the skating community, with many remembering the skaters as part of a close-knit family.
American Airlines expressed “deep sorrow,” and US Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas called the collision “nothing short of a nightmare.”
As recovery efforts continue and investigations unfold, the nation remains in mourning for the lives lost in this devastating incident.
