Trump Questions Air Traffic Control Actions Following Deadly Mid-Air Collision

President Donald Trump has raised questions about the conduct of the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers ahead of a catastrophic mid-air collision that occurred on Wednesday evening near Reagan Washington National Airport. The accident involved an American Airlines plane, which had 64 individuals on board, and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, carrying three crew members. There are growing fears that no one survived the crash, though officials stated that updates on the recovery efforts would not be available until Thursday morning.

In an official statement, Mr. Trump indicated he had received briefings regarding the "terrible accident" and extended his prayers to those affected. However, he took to Truth Social to voice his speculations surrounding the incident, highlighting how the airplane was performing a routine approach when the helicopter appeared to head straight towards it for an extended duration. Trump noted that visibility was clear, with the airplane’s lights fully operational, questioning why the helicopter did not maneuver away or why the control tower did not direct the helicopter appropriately.

The American Airlines flight had originated from Kansas, and although officials have not confirmed any fatalities yet, US Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas predicted that all individuals on both aircraft perished in the crash. At a press conference at Reagan airport, he remarked, "It’s really hard when you lose probably over 60 Kansans simultaneously," emphasizing the profound grief that comes with such a significant loss. The senator elaborated that a single death is a tragedy, but losing a multitude becomes an "unbearable sorrow."

Reports indicate that among those on the American Airlines flight were Russian athletes and coaches Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, according to a source for the Russian state-run TASS news agency. The mid-air collision occurred when the passenger jet, directed towards an approach to Reagan airport from Wichita, Kansas, was on its landing trajectory. Communications between the helicopter crew and the air traffic control tower revealed that the helicopter was aware of the airplane's presence. In response to the incident, the Pentagon has initiated an immediate investigation to determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the crash.