Trump says DC aircraft collision could have been evaded
(MENAFN) President Donald trump has suggested that the deadly crash between a US army helicopter and a civilian airliner near Washington, D.C. could have been avoided, raising concerns about air traffic controllers’ actions. The collision on Wednesday evening killed all 67 people aboard both the H-60 Blackhawk helicopter and Flight 5342, which was attempting to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Trump criticized the lack of action from the helicopter crew and questioned why they did not maneuver, given the clear night sky and visible lights on the plane. He also criticized the failure of the control tower to guide the helicopter, calling it a situation that “should have been prevented.”
The crash occurred at 9 pm, with clear skies, 16 km visibility, and temperatures around 10°C, although parts of the Potomac River were still frozen from a previous cold snap. The civilian aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, including athletes and coaches from the US Figure Skating Championships.
Despite extensive search efforts, no survivors were found, and the focus shifted from rescue to recovery.
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