An investigation is simply starting into the fatal plane crash over the Potomac River in Washington, with no trigger decided but by the Nationwide Transportation Security Board.
President Donald Trump, although, was fast to attempt to assign blame on Thursday as he gave a press convention on the White Home whereas restoration crews navigated the icy waters searching for victims.
“We have no idea what led to this crash, however we have now some very sturdy opinions,” he mentioned.
Trump first claimed, without evidence, that range, fairness and inclusion initiatives beneath Democratic presidents could possibly be an element. He later doubled down on the unsubstantiated declare whereas he signed govt orders within the Oval Workplace.
Trump additionally instructed the helicopter pilots navigating the U.S. Military Black Hawk ought to have moved out of the way in which however at one level mentioned warnings to the crew got “very late.”
On Friday, he continued to query the chopper’s motion because it gave the impression to be flying above the mandated 200 ft. “That is not likely too difficult to know, is it???” he wrote on his social media platform Reality Social.
President Donald Trump speaks within the James Brady Press Briefing Room on the White Home, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
Main the investigation into the crash is the NTSB, with a preliminary report due in 30 days however a ultimate report on possible trigger not going for no less than a 12 months.
NTSB member Todd Inman, throughout an look on “Good Morning America” on Friday, mentioned it’s far too early to make a dedication.
“The one conclusion I do know is final night time we met with a number of hundred relations who misplaced their family members within the Potomac,” he mentioned. “We do not want that to occur anymore. … We’ll discover out what occurred, and we’ll attempt to cease it from taking place once more.”
Trump was requested by a reporter on Friday if he had any issues that his feedback might intrude with the investigation.
“No, I believe they will do an investigation. It will most likely come out the way in which I mentioned it,” Trump responded. “I might wish to put it up entrance. I am so uninterested in listening to issues occur to our nation after which folks say we’ll do an investigation. And three years later, they give you a report that no one seems at, particularly not in all circumstances.”
Emergency response items work on the crash website of the American Airways aircraft on the Potomac River after the aircraft crashed final night time on method to Reagan Nationwide Airport, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va.
Al Drago/Getty Photos
Trump accused former President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama of hiring air visitors controllers based mostly on range targets.
“I put security first — Obama, Biden and the Democrats put coverage first, they usually put politics at a stage that no one’s ever seen,” Trump claimed at Thursday’s information convention.
When pressed by ABC Information Chief White Home Correspondent Mary Bruce what proof he had that the crash was brought on by DEI efforts, Trump responded: “It simply might have been.”
DEI or any related program doesn’t apply to hiring for air visitors management, which requires rigorous well being examinations and a multiyear coaching course of. Candidates should move a medical examination, a flair check and a psychological check that’s extra stringent than that required of a pilot, mentioned Chris Wilbanks, FAA deputy vp of security and technical coaching.
Trump pointed to a New York Publish article as he accused Democrats of pushing to rent folks with extreme psychological disabilities on the Federal Aviation Administration. However the range language referenced within the article was on the FAA web site through the entirety of Trump’s first time period and has been on the positioning for greater than a decade, based on Snopes.
President Donald Trump talks to reporters after signing an govt order to nominate the deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration within the Oval Workplace on the White Home, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Trump’s assaults, although, are in step with his agenda to dismantle DEI from the federal authorities. In his first week in workplace, he signed a number of orders to position federal workers engaged on DEI on administrative depart and to take away DEI efforts from the Pentagon.
Democrats pushed again on Trump’s claims concerning the crash.
“Pay attention, it is one factor for web pundits to spew off conspiracy theories. It is one other for the president of the USA to throw out idle hypothesis as our bodies are nonetheless being recovered and households nonetheless being notified,” Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., mentioned on Thursday. “It simply turns your abdomen.”
Pete Buttigieg, Biden’s transportation secretary and one other goal of Trump’s criticism within the wake of the crash, referred to as Trump’s feedback “despicable.”
“President Trump now oversees the army and the FAA,” Buttigieg wrote in a social media publish. “One among his first acts was to fireplace and droop among the key personnel who helped hold our skies protected. Time for the President to indicate precise management and clarify what he’ll do to stop this from taking place once more.”
ABC Information’ Selina Wang, Benjamin Siegel, Sam Sweeney, Fritz Farrow and Hannah Demissie contributed to this report.
