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Trump criticizes diversity hiring after 67 dead in US air disaster

Search and rescue teams work in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, with the Capitol dome in the background, as seen from Virginia, U.S., January 30, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Investigation Underway After Deadliest U.S. Air Disaster in Over Two Decades

Washington, D.C. – A tragic collision between an American Airlines Bombardier regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter at Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night has claimed the lives of 67 people, marking the deadliest aviation disaster in the United States in more than 20 years. The incident has prompted an extensive investigation into the cause of the crash.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that both aircraft had been operating within standard flight patterns and that there had been no communication breakdown. Air traffic control recordings indicate that controllers had warned the helicopter of the approaching jet and instructed it to alter its course. However, the exact cause of the collision remains unknown.

President Trump’s Remarks and Policy Stance

At a White House news conference, President Donald Trump criticized the helicopter pilots and suggested, without providing evidence, that federal diversity hiring initiatives might have contributed to the accident. “We do not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas,” Trump stated.

The president’s remarks followed his recent moves to dismantle federal diversity programs, a policy shift that has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates. His suggestion that diversity hiring may have impacted aviation safety was met with swift rebuke, including from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who called the remarks “despicable” and emphasized the importance of supporting the victims’ families.

Crash Details and Initial Investigation

The collision occurred as American Eagle Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, was preparing to land with 60 passengers and four crew members on board. The Army helicopter was conducting a routine training exercise with a three-person crew using night-vision equipment.

Air traffic control recordings captured the moments before the crash, with controllers directing the helicopter to avoid the jet. Seconds later, a fireball was seen over the Potomac River, followed by radio transmissions indicating the jet had disappeared from radar.

Footage of the incident, captured by webcams in the area, shows the impact and subsequent explosion. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun recovering flight data recorders, commonly known as “black boxes,” to determine the factors leading to the disaster.

Victims and Global Impact

Among the passengers on board were world-renowned figure skating coaches Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, along with young athletes returning from a training camp in Kansas. The skating community has expressed profound grief, with officials calling the loss “devastating.”

Russia’s government extended condolences to the families of the victims, as several Russian-American skaters were reportedly on board. The tragedy has drawn comparisons to the 1961 Sabena crash that killed the entire U.S. national figure skating team.

Air Traffic and Safety Concerns

Reagan National Airport, one of the busiest airports in the United States, has long been a focal point for air traffic safety concerns due to its proximity to the White House and the Pentagon. The airport has experienced multiple near-miss incidents in recent years, including a serious runway incursion in May 2024.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin confirmed that most of the victims’ remains had been recovered and described the crash as “a routine operation that went terribly wrong.” Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia reiterated longstanding concerns about the complexity of Washington’s airspace, stating, “I’ve been praying that there wouldn’t be something like this, but dreading in my heart that there would be.”

The investigation is ongoing, with federal authorities working to determine the cause of the collision and any potential safety improvements necessary to prevent future tragedies.

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