President Donald Trump has raised questions about the deadly collision between an American Airlines jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night. The crash, which resulted in both aircrafts going down, involved 64 passengers and crew members on the American Airlines flight and three people on the Black Hawk, with all feared to be dead.
Trump, who was briefed on the “terrible accident,” offered his condolences and prayers but later took to Truth Social to express his concerns. He questioned why the helicopter, which was on a collision course with the plane, did not maneuver to avoid it, considering the clear weather conditions and the visibility of the airplane’s lights. He also criticized the control tower for not giving better instructions to the helicopter crew, speculating that the crash might have been preventable.
The American Airlines flight had originated from Wichita, Kansas, and was approaching Reagan Airport. While no official death toll has been confirmed, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall suggested that all aboard both aircraft likely perished. The tragic loss has been described as a “heartbreak beyond measure.”
The Pentagon has initiated an investigation into the incident, and emergency responders have been at the scene, with search and rescue operations ongoing in the Potomac River.
