Trump blames pilot error, criticises FAA diversity efforts over DC plane crash

In the aftermath of a catastrophic collision between a regional jet and a US Army helicopter near Washington, DC, President Donald Trump, on Thursday, suggested that federal diversity efforts, which were implemented under Democratic administrations, may have contributed to the deadly crash that killed all 67 people on board. The incident, which occurred at Reagan Washington National Airport, involved an American Airlines Bombardier aircraft carrying 60 passengers and four crew members colliding with an Army Black Hawk helicopter. 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.” Trump's remarks were made in contrast to official statements from aviation experts and transportation officials.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Sky News (@skynews) 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. Despite Trump’s claims, there has been no official evidence linking the crash to federal diversity practices, and other officials have emphasized the need to investigate the incident further. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom confirmed that the pilot of Flight 5342 had six years of flying experience, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the helicopter crew as experienced. The crash, which also claimed the lives of ice skaters and coaches returning from a training camp in Wichita, Kansas, has shaken the figure skating community.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Sky News (@skynews) The passengers included Russian-born former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, as well as teenage skaters and their families. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a full investigation into the cause of the collision, which remains the deadliest US air disaster in more than 20 years. As the investigation unfolds, concerns have emerged about the growing congestion in US airspace, particularly in the Washington, DC region, where civilian and military aircraft must navigate complex security challenges. The crash follows several near-miss incidents, leading lawmakers to question the effectiveness of air traffic management in the area.