President Donald Trump has raised concerns over the midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter that resulted in at least 20 fatalities.
The crash occurred near Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport, just five kilometers from the White House, sparking widespread shock and ongoing investigations.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump questioned why the Army helicopter did not take evasive action despite clear visibility. "The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport.
The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. 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?" Trump wrote.
The collision, which occurred on Wednesday night, involved American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ-701 regional jet, and a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The plane, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, and was carrying 64 people, crashed into the Potomac River while approaching the airport for landing. The helicopter, part of a military training mission, was carrying three soldiers.
While Trump expressed disbelief over the incident, he later issued a more formal statement calling it a “terrible accident.” He also praised the efforts of emergency responders involved in the search operation, which continued through the night in freezing temperatures. No survivors have been reported so far.
The collision prompted the grounding of all flights at Reagan National Airport, and authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the FBI are among the agencies working to determine the cause of the crash, including why the plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting 2,400 feet short of the runway.
This tragedy has raised serious questions about air traffic control procedures and military coordination in the airspace around Washington, D.C. Investigations are ongoing, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) expected to assist in uncovering the circumstances that led to the collision.
