Donald Trump attributed the cause of a tragic collision between a commercial jet and a military helicopter, which resulted in 67 fatalities near Washington, to Democrats and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. In statements made during a press conference, Trump expressed his belief that lax safety standards led to the accident, although he did not provide supporting evidence for his claims.
He announced that there were no survivors from the crash, which occurred on Wednesday night, marking his first appearance in the White House press briefing room during his second presidency.
The American Airlines regional flight, operated by PSA Airlines, was making an approach into Reagan National Airport in Washington after departing from Wichita, Kansas. The Bombardier CRJ700 jet collided with a US Army Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River.
The wreckage of the commercial jet was located in three separate pieces within the water. At the time of the incident, the American Airlines flight had 60 passengers and four crew members on board, while the Black Hawk was carrying three soldiers.
During his remarks, Trump, accompanied by his vice president and newly sworn-in secretaries of defense and transportation, called for unity in a time of sorrow before shifting towards a political critique of the Democrats. He claimed that former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden had compromised qualifications for air traffic controllers.
“Safety comes first for me, while Obama, Biden, and the Democrats prioritize policy,” he stated, asserting the need for highly qualified air traffic controllers. He expressed concern about individuals with “severe disabilities” serving in such roles.
After commenting on the air traffic controllers, Trump directed blame toward the crew of the Black Hawk helicopter, highlighting the clarity of the night and the visibility of the commercial jet’s lights. He remarked, “With helicopters, you can stop very quickly. The pilot should have made the correct turn.”
US defense officials reported that the Black Hawk was operated by an experienced crew during a routine training flight. Trump mentioned that investigators would assess whether the helicopter crew was utilizing night vision equipment, which could impact visibility from the cockpit; however, this information could not be confirmed.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that the soldiers were participating in their annual night flight retraining for a critical government continuity mission. Among them were a young pilot, a staff sergeant, and two chief warrant officers.
Hegseth acknowledged the unfortunate nature of the incident, citing an “elevation issue” as an area of immediate investigation, which he deemed “absolutely unacceptable.”
John Koziol, an aviation expert, stated that given the crew’s expertise, the situation should not have arisen. He noted the flight path was commonly used by military and government aircraft.
As of Thursday morning, responders had recovered 28 bodies from the commercial flight and one from the Black Hawk. Trump noted that there were Russian citizens aboard the passenger jet, and the US would facilitate repatriation efforts, given the lack of direct air travel between the US and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.
Serious aviation incidents are uncommon in the US, with the last notable crash occurring in 2009, resulting in 49 fatalities when a Colgan Air flight went down near Buffalo, New York.
In light of the tragedy, Trump encouraged the public to continue flying.
photo credit: www.ft.com
