Former President Donald Trump has voiced concerns over the midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter that claimed at least 20 lives. The tragic incident occurred near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport, just five kilometers from the White House, and has left many shocked as investigations continue.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump questioned why the Army helicopter did not take evasive action, given the clear visibility at the time of the crash. He pointed out that the American Airlines plane, Flight 5342, was on a “perfect and routine” approach to the airport, raising concerns over whether the helicopter should have been directed to move. Trump wrote, “It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, 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?”
Also Read: 20 Killed in Midair Collision Between Passenger Jet and US Army Helicopter
The collision, which took place on Wednesday night, involved a Bombardier CRJ-701 regional jet and a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter engaged in a military training mission. The jet, with 64 people aboard, crashed into the Potomac River while the helicopter, carrying three soldiers, was also brought down. Emergency responders have been working around the clock to search for survivors, though none have been found so far.
Trump later issued a more formal statement, referring to the crash as a “terrible accident” and commending the emergency services involved in the rescue efforts despite freezing temperatures. All flights at Reagan National Airport were temporarily grounded as a result of the incident.
Authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the FBI, have launched a full investigation into the crash. A critical aspect of the investigation will focus on why the plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting just 2,400 feet short of the runway. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to play a key role in uncovering what caused the fatal collision.
This tragic accident has brought attention to air traffic control protocols and military airspace coordination around the nation’s capital, and officials are working diligently to determine the events that led to this devastating crash.
