Trump Blames DEI Initiatives For DC Plane Crash
Photo Credit: Petty Officer Second Class Taylor Bacon, US Coast Guard via AP
On Jan. 29, a US Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a commercial jet, killing all 64 passengers aboard the flight and the three US soldiers aboard the helicopter. American Airlines flight 5342 was travelling from Wichita, Kansas, and struck the helicopter on its final descent to Washington’s Reagan National Airport. The wreckage of both aircrafts was found in the Potomac River, where first responders rushed to the scene, but were unsuccessful in finding any survivors.
The tragedy sparked a national discussion on air safety. According to an analysis by CBS News, the collision was likely caused by the Army helicopter flying above its permitted altitude. In immediate response to the crash, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy restricted helicopter traffic in the airspace surrounding Reagan National. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Jennifer Homendy commended his response, but stated at a news conference that “it’s too early to say” whether the restriction will be kept permanently.
In response to the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Defense, and the US Army launched a comprehensive investigation into the collision in collaboration with the NTSB to determine what caused the collision. "We are looking at the possibility that there may be bad data," Homendy said. Miscommunication between air traffic controllers, the Black Hawk helicopter, and the American Airlines aircraft may have led to the crash.
US President Donald Trump addressed the nation following the incident, expressing condolences and promising improvements in aviation safety. In his first news conference after the incident, President Trump also blamed the crash on the FAA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. “We have to have our smartest people” hold the positions of air traffic controllers in the FAA, Trump said at the conference. The president cited the FAA’s recognition of the underemployment of those with disabilities, and rebuked the implementation of DEI initiatives in air traffic control positions. "It just could have been," Trump replied when asked whether the crash was the result of DEI initiatives.
The Trump administration then initiated the termination of several hundred FAA employees, primarily those on probationary status. Trump promised Americans that “we will restore faith in American air travel.” Trump acknowledged the "strong opinions and ideas" he and his team have expressed, but recognized that the investigation into the crash is still ongoing.