The president touched on a spread of points, together with the FAA, DEI, and flight security.
President Donald Trump on Thursday afternoon offered an replace on the airplane and helicopter collision Wednesday night time that left everybody on board each plane useless.
Throughout his first look in his second time period within the White Home briefing room, the president referred to as the crash, involving an American Airways-operated flight and a U.S. Military helicopter, a “tragedy of horrible proportions.”
He stated the U.S. army and the Nationwide Transportation Security Board is investigating, saying it’s nonetheless not clear what precipitated the catastrophe. There have been no survivors on board, he stated, confirming fears expressed by Washington officers earlier within the day.
All 64 folks aboard an American Airways jet that collided with an Military helicopter Wednesday night time have been feared useless, in what was probably the worst U.S. aviation catastrophe in nearly a decade, officers stated Thursday.
At the least 28 our bodies, together with these of the three troopers who have been on the helicopter, have been pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac River as restoration operations proceed.
Names New FAA Chairman
Within the briefing, Trump instructed reporters he had named a brand new performing head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) within the wake of the aviation catastrophe.
“I’m additionally instantly appointing an performing commissioner to the FAA: Christopher Rocheleau. A 22-year veteran of the company, extremely revered. Christopher, thanks very a lot, respect it,” he stated.
Rocheleau, a former FAA administrator and aviation affiliation govt, was within the room when Trump made the announcement.
Former FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stepped down from his place on the identical day Trump was inaugurated. The FAA place wants Senate affirmation, and Whitaker was permitted by the higher congressional chamber in 2023.
The president added that the crash signifies the Senate wants to verify his Cupboard choices in a well timed method.
“For positive, we wish quick confirmations,” Trump stated. “The Democrats, as you already know, are doing all the pieces they will to delay. They’ve taken too lengthy. We’re struggling to get superb folks that everyone is aware of are going to be confirmed. We’re struggling to get them out quicker.”
Believes It’s Secure to Fly within the US
When requested about whether or not People must be involved about flying within the wake of the crash, Trump stated he wasn’t involved.
“No, under no circumstances. I’m not hesitant to fly,” Trump stated. “We’ve got the most secure flying wherever on the earth, and we’ll preserve it that method,” he added.
Targets DEI Hiring
Within the information convention, Trump criticized the earlier administration for specializing in variety, fairness, and inclusion (DEI) insurance policies and hiring requirements, alleging that the aviation catastrophe might have been linked to much less stringent requirements.
“I put security first,“ Trump stated, including that former President Joe Biden modified aviation requirements ”again to decrease than ever earlier than.“ The president accused Biden-era Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg of operating the company ”proper into the bottom along with his variety.”
When a reporter requested about his feedback on DEI, Trump stated: “The FAA is actively recruiting staff that suffer extreme mental disabilities, psychiatric issues, and different psychological and bodily situations beneath a variety and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the company’s web site.”
Trump famous that this system allowed for the hiring of individuals with listening to and imaginative and prescient points in addition to paralysis, epilepsy, and dwarfism.
Trump stated that air visitors controllers have to be good to make sure security.
“They must be gifted, naturally gifted geniuses,” he stated. “You may’t have common folks doing their job.”
Questions Helicopter Pilots’ Choice
Trump requested questions concerning the three pilots on the Military UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that collided with the American Airways jet, including that the army plane was not doing what it was speculated to earlier than it collided with the airplane.
“We had a scenario the place we had a helicopter that had the power to cease,” he stated.
“The flip it made was not the right flip, clearly, and it did considerably the alternative of what it was instructed. We don’t know that might have been the distinction, as a result of the timing was so tight,” Trump stated.
The helicopter, he stated, mustn’t have been flying at roughly the identical altitude because the airplane.
“You might have turned the helicopter considerably; you possibly can have stopped the helicopter,” Trump stated. “For some purpose, it simply stored going after which made a slight flip on the very finish, and by that point, it was too late.”
New Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth stated in a video earlier Thursday that the helicopter crew was “pretty skilled” and was performing an “annual night time analysis” with night-vision goggles.
Neither Hegseth nor different officers have to this point offered particulars on the reason for the crash. Authorities have stated an investigation is underway, and the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) is the lead investigating company.
Gives Condolences
“I converse to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation,” Trump stated on the briefing. He stated that there’s a “large search and rescue operation” that began in a single day, which is “leveraging each asset at our disposal.”
The work has now shifted to a restoration mission,“ the president stated. ”Sadly, there aren’t any survivors.”
Trump pledged to help households who have been impacted by the crash, saying “we’re all trying to find solutions.”
American Eagle Flight No. 5342, which took off from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and 4 crew on board, was scheduled to land at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport.
The Related Press contributed to this report.