Washington:
On Thursday, President Donald Trump confirmed that no survivors were found after a military helicopter collided with a passenger plane in mid-air, killing 64 people.
“I am speaking to you this morning at a time of grief for our country,” Trump said in a speech at the White House, addressing the mid-air collision in Washington.
He further added, “The operation has now shifted to recovery. Sadly, no one survived. It was a dark and heartbreaking night in the capital of our nation.”
Earlier, Washington’s Fire Chief, John Donnelly, had stated in a press conference, “We have now transitioned from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.”
Donnelly also mentioned that 28 bodies had been recovered, including one from the helicopter.
As daylight broke, emergency ships with powerful arc lights and dive teams were seen working in the water for rescue efforts.
The cause of the collision has not yet been determined, but transport officials confirmed that both aircraft were on their normal flight paths and the sky was clear.
Trump’s Criticism:
While other officials awaited the investigation, Trump took to social media to express his criticism of the incident. He stated, “The plane was coming in as usual towards the airport. The helicopter kept colliding with the plane. It was a clear night, and the plane’s lights were shining.”
Trump also questioned, “Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn? What did the control tower tell the helicopter to do? This was a terrible situation that should have been avoided.”
Cause of the Incident:
Due to Washington’s busy airspace, it is difficult to understand how a passenger plane, equipped with modern collision-avoidance technology and in close communication with nearby traffic controllers, collided with a military aircraft.
Washington’s airspace is often congested, especially near Reagan National Airport, where planes descend for landing and helicopters—military, civilian, or government officials—are constantly coming and going.
This airport had also witnessed a deadly accident in 1982 when Air Florida Flight 90, a Boeing 737, collided with the 14th Street Bridge just after landing, plunging into the Potomac River and killing 78 people.
