Fri Jan 31 05:49:30 UTC 2025: ## Plane and Helicopter Collision Over Potomac Kills 67; Trump Blames Diversity Policies
**Washington, D.C. –** A mid-air collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter over the Potomac River resulted in the deaths of 67 people on Wednesday night. The wreckage was discovered Thursday morning near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with recovery efforts hampered by the cold, dark conditions. Over 40 bodies have been recovered as of Thursday evening.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered the black boxes from the Bombardier jet, operated by an American Airlines subsidiary, and the Army Black Hawk helicopter. These recorders are currently being analyzed. A preliminary Federal Aviation Administration report, cited by the New York Times, suggests that understaffing in the control tower – with only one air traffic controller managing both aircraft – may have played a role in the accident.
President Donald Trump, in a press conference, attributed the tragedy to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies implemented by his predecessors, claiming they led to incompetent hiring practices within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He specifically criticized former President Joe Biden and Barack Obama, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, for prioritizing diversity over competence.
This assertion was met with immediate backlash from Democrats, including Senator Chris Murphy, who called Trump’s comments “disgusting.” Buttigieg responded on X, labeling Trump’s statements as “despicable.” The White House has since issued a memo directing an investigation into FAA hiring standards under the Biden administration.
The passenger plane, American Eagle Flight 5342, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, and carried 64 passengers, including several US figure skaters and coaches, a Russian skating pair, and two Chinese citizens. The helicopter had a crew of three. The collision, the first major air crash in the US since 2009, occurred under clear conditions, with both aircraft on standard flight paths. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
First Piper 