Latest news with #SikorskyH-60Blackhawk
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Donald Trump Says DEI Is To Blame For D.C. Air Collision Despite Acknowledging That 'We Do Not Know What Led To This Crash'
After mourning the loss of victims in the air collision in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump pivoted quickly to placing the blame. He quickly claimed that he had elevated safety standards only to have Joe Biden lower them, and then more directly blamed diversity, equity and inclusion programs, or DEI. More from Deadline MSNBC Hosts Talk About Democrats' Next Big Step In Returning From The Wilderness: Picking A DNC Chair Semafor To Hold "National Trust In News Summit" With Speakers Including Leaders Of CNN, NBCU News Group And New York Times Channel 4 Boss Warns Against UK "Sliding Into American News Swamp" He singled out former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, claiming that he has been using 'a good line of bullshit' in leading the department, which oversees the FAA. Yet in briefing with reporters at the White House, Trump said that 'we do not know what led to this crash, but we have some strong opinions.' 'We don't know,' Trump said later. 'The helicopter was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a tragedy occurred.' Asked why he thinks that DEI is to blame, Trump said it was because he had 'common sense.' But he veered in who he thinks he bears responsibility from air traffic controllers to the pilots of the helicopter, saying that they 'should have seen where they are going.' American Eagle flight 5342, operated by American Airlines subsidiary PSA, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. It collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Blackhawk, carrying three people, over the Potomac River. Investigators have not determined fault, as the cause of the crash is still under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board typically takes months or even more than a year to complete and fully determine a cause. Trump continuously blamed Biden and even Barack Obama for their safety standards. But as he took questions from reporters, he was challenged on his attack on hiring language on the FAA website. Trump insisted that he had made reforms to FAA safety standards since coming to office. But soon after the crash on Wednesday evening, a report of another Trump action circulated on social media: He fired the members of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee. He also fired the heads of the Transportation Security Administration and Coast Guard. More to come. Best of Deadline How to Watch The 67th Annual Grammy Awards Online And With Cable 'A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms': Everything We Know About The 'Game Of Thrones' Prequel, Including Plot, Premiere Date & Whether George R.R. Martin Is Involved 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Yahoo
American Airlines Plane Crash: 19 Bodies Recovered; Russian Skating Champions On Board; Trump Weighs In
UPDATED: The bodies of 19 people have reportedly been recovered after an American Airlines flight collided with a military helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C. The American Eagle flight 5342, operated by American Airlines subsidiary PSA, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. It collided with a Sikorsky H-60 Blackhawk, carrying three people, over the Potomac River. More from Deadline Gospel Music Assn. Hall of Fame Quartet Members Die In Plane Crash Michael Azzolino Named Drama VP, Overall Deals Head Nne Ebong Also Promoted At Netflix Sony Pushes 'Insidious' Movie To 2026, Dates Darren Aronofsky Pic 'Caught Stealing' Russian state media reported that Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, Russian-born ice skating coaches and former world champions, were on board the PSA plane. American Airlines said in a statement: 'There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the aircraft.' It identified the flight as American Eagle flight 5342 operated by PSA. According to the company's web site, PSA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American. At a 1 a.m. press conference, officials maintained that the operation was still a rescue effort, though Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall assumed fatalities. 'We mourn with the families who've lost loved ones,' he said. Later asked by CNN if he had had fatalities confirmed to him Marshall said, 'No, but I'm a physician and I'm not stupid. There have been no ambulances leaving here.' Earlier in the night, the FAA issued the following statement: A PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport around 9 p.m. local time. PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines. It departed from Wichita, Kansas. The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation. In a social media post, President Donald Trump, who had been fully briefed according to the White House, questioned how the crash happened. '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,' he wrote. 'This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented.' DC police confirmed the crash had taken place over the Potomac River and that search and rescue operations were taking place in the river itself. A fire official said the water that dive crews were working in is about eight feet deep, filled with ice and murky. The temperature in the area is expected to 'drop below freezing…with lows in the 20s,' according to the National Weather Service. Flights into and out of the airport were quickly halted. First reports of the crash came in about 8:53 p.m. ET. Some initial reports identified the helicopter as a DCPD aircraft. Police officials debunked that contention. Joint MPD and @dcfireems statement on current search and rescue operation underway in the Potomac River. — DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 30, 2025 Fox News, CNN and MSNBC quickly jumped to coverage with updates from reporters on the scene detailing rescue efforts on the river. They also played dramatic footage of what appeared to be a mid-air crash not far off the ground and then the flash of an explosion. The White House also issued the following statement from President Donald Trump: I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise. Best of Deadline How to Watch The 67th Annual Grammy Awards Online And With Cable 'A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms': Everything We Know About The 'Game Of Thrones' Prequel, Including Plot, Premiere Date & Whether George R.R. Martin Is Involved 2025 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More
