‘More will die': Phil Williams criticized for ‘disgusting' post on Potomac River midair collision
Phil Williams, chief investigative reporter for NewsChannel 5, faced criticism after posting on social media that President Donald Trump's federal buyouts may have contributed to the deadly midair collision between an American Airlines flight and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C. on January 29.
The tragic crash, which occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, has sparked debate about the potential safety risks linked to Trump's recent federal hiring freeze.
The crash involved American Eagle Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet traveling from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., and a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk military helicopter on a training flight. Both aircraft collided and fell into the Potomac River, resulting in multiple fatalities. Authorities are still working on recovery efforts, though challenging weather conditions have made the operation complex.
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, Williams posted on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that Trump's buyouts of federal employees had weakened air traffic control staffing, which could have contributed to the disaster. In his now-deleted post, Williams wrote: 'President Trump offered unprecedented buyouts to ALL federal employees at a time when studies show the FAA does NOT have enough air traffic controllers to keep us safe. More people will likely die.' The comment suggested a direct link between the federal buyouts and the tragic incident.
Absolutely terrible. Prayers for everyone.
Did you see this disgusting post by Phil Williams?
— Chris Burger 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 (@ChrisBurgerTN)
The post was met with swift backlash, as many social media users accused Williams of using the national tragedy to criticize Trump politically. Some even called for his dismissal from NewsChannel 5, arguing that such a statement was insensitive so soon after the crash.
Fire Phil Williams.
— Juan Hundred (@100juanhundred)
In response to the criticism, Williams deleted the original post and followed up with a clarifying message.
Deleted an earlier post because it unfortunately was interpreted as blaming tonight's tragedy on policies in Washington. That was certainly not my intent. As someone who has covered aviation safety for many, many years, I know that you cannot suddenly pull people out of an ATC…
— Phil Williams (@PhilNvestigates)
Phil Williams, who has worked for over three decades at NewsChannel 5, is widely respected for his investigative work. He has won numerous awards, including the prestigious John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2023. His long career has been marked by a reputation for integrity and courage in reporting. However, his recent post has sparked a broader debate about the role of journalists in addressing political issues and national tragedies in real-time.
As the investigation into the crash continues, President Trump's January 20 executive order freezing the hiring of federal civilian employees, including air traffic controllers, has come under scrutiny. Critics argue that the freeze could compromise aviation safety by further straining an already stretched air traffic control system. However, it remains unclear whether air traffic controllers are exempt from the freeze, which applies to most vacant federal positions but excludes certain roles related to national security, public safety, and immigration enforcement.
Williams' controversial post and the resulting backlash reflect the delicate nature of reporting on sensitive issues, especially when they intersect with politics. As the investigation into the crash progresses, both the specific causes of the tragedy and the broader implications of Trump's policies on public safety will likely remain topics of significant discussion.
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