US President Donald Trump voiced concerns on Wednesday night regarding the tragic collision between a passenger flight and a US Army helicopter near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport. The incident, which took place as the flight was landing, resulted in both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River. The passenger flight, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided with the helicopter, which had three people onboard. As of now, authorities have recovered 18 bodies from the river, with no survivors reported.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump questioned the actions of both the air traffic controllers and the military helicopter crew. He pointed out that the passenger plane was on a routine approach and the helicopter was heading straight for it. Despite the clear night and the visible lights of the plane, Trump wondered why the helicopter did not alter its course and why air traffic control did not intervene sooner.
Audio from the air traffic control tower revealed a tense exchange between the controller and the helicopter pilot just moments before the crash. The controller inquired whether the helicopter had the approaching plane in sight, and then instructed the helicopter to pass behind the plane. No response was received, and the collision occurred seconds later.
The crash occurred around 9 PM EST when a regional jet departing from Wichita, Kansas, struck a military Blackhawk helicopter during its approach. The FAA grounded all planes at Reagan National following the incident, and multiple agencies, including Washington’s police, responded to the scene.
US Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas described the crash as “nothing short of a nightmare” on social media.
