WASHINGTON, USA — President Donald Trump on Thursday, January 30, 2025, attributed the deadly midair collision over the Potomac River to a “confluence of bad decisions.”
He also suggested, without evidence, that diversity hiring policies under previous administrations may have played a role in the accident.
The collision, which occurred on Wednesday night, involved an American Airlines regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members and a U.S. Army Sikorsky H-60 helicopter.
The plane, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, was on approach to Reagan National Airport when it collided with the helicopter, crashing into the river.
RELATED: American Airlines CEO Expresses ‘Deep Sorrow’ After Potomac River Collision
Officials have said they do not expect to find any survivors.
Twenty-seven bodies from the plane and one from the helicopter have been recovered so far.
Trump: “Only the Highest Standards” for Air Traffic Control
Speaking at the White House on Thursday, January 30, 2025, Trump said he had been fully briefed on the crash and expressed condolences for the victims.
“May God bless their souls,” he said.
However, he quickly pivoted to criticising aviation policies under previous Democratic administrations, particularly those of former President Barack Obama and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whom he accused of lowering hiring standards in air traffic control.
“We must have only the highest standards for those who work in our aviation system,” Trump said.
“I changed the Obama standards from very mediocre at best to extraordinary.”
He continued: “Only the highest aptitude. They have to be the highest intellect and psychologically superior people were allowed to qualify for air traffic controllers. That was not so prior to getting there.”
Trump then alleged that the Biden administration had reversed his policies upon taking office, lowering standards further.
“Their policy was horrible, and their politics was even worse,” he said.
Criticism of Buttigieg and Diversity Initiatives
Trump also took aim at Pete Buttigieg, who served as transportation secretary under President Joe Biden, suggesting that his leadership weakened the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“He was a disaster,” Trump said. “He was a disaster as a mayor, he ran his city into the ground, and he’s a disaster now. He’s just got a good line of bullshit.”
He accused Buttigieg of prioritising diversity over competence, saying, “He ran the Department of Transportation into the ground with his diversity.”
Ongoing Investigation and Response
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the cause of the collision.
The head of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, in a letter to members, cautioned that “it is premature to speculate on the root cause” of the accident.
Despite this, Trump signalled that his administration had already formed strong opinions about what led to the disaster.
“We did not know what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas,” he said.
“We think we have some pretty good ideas, but we’ll find out how this disaster occurred, and we’ll ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
Rescue and Recovery Efforts
The crash triggered a large-scale search-and-rescue operation, with over 300 responders working under difficult conditions.
D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly said late Thursday that the operation had shifted from search-and-rescue to recovery, acknowledging that the prospect of finding survivors was unlikely.
Among the victims were several members of the U.S. Figure Skating community, according to a statement from the organisation.
Next Steps
As investigators work to determine the cause of the accident, Trump’s comments have reignited a debate over federal hiring practices and aviation safety.
Democratic lawmakers and aviation experts have pushed back against Trump’s claims, arguing that there is no evidence linking diversity initiatives to aviation safety issues.
The White House has not provided further details to support Trump’s assertions, and federal agencies have yet to release preliminary findings on the crash.
For now, authorities continue their painstaking efforts to recover victims from the wreckage, as families wait for answers.
