The US had its deadliest aviation disaster in two decades

The US has had its deadliest aviation disaster in two decades. Here’s what you need to know

aviation

Sixty-seven people aboard two US aircraft were killed in a midair collision last night, marking the country’s worst aviation disaster in a generation.

An American Airlines passenger plane set to make a landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was hit by a military Black Hawk helicopter, sending both aircraft into the frigid Potomac River. 

Officials believe all people involved have been killed, with recovery operations still underway. At least 28 bodies, including all three soldiers who were on the helicopter, have been pulled from the river’s icy waters. 

Among those on the passenger plane were 14 members of the figure skating community, who had been at a camp in Wichita, Kansas, according to US Figure Skating. 

On board were a pair of teenage figure skaters, Spencer Lane and Jinna Hahn, as well as their mothers Christine Lane and Jin Hahn, from Boston, and former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, both from Russia. 

“We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends and coaches, are understood to be among those on board,” US Figure Skating said in a statement. 

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family — and we stand together.”

President of the Air Line Pilots Association, Jason Ambrosi said the union’s accident investigation team was on the scene working with the National Transportation Safety Board, and its Critical Incident Response Program was working to support union members and the families involved in the collision. 

“We mourn the loss of our friends, colleagues and members of our ALPA and Association of Flight Attendants union family,” said Ambrosi. 

“A lot of details and speculation will come out in response to this tragedy, but we must remember to let the investigation run its course.”

There had been one air traffic controller who was responsible for coordinating helicopter traffic and arriving and departing planes when the collision happened, according to a report by the Federal Aviation Administration, obtained by The Associated Press.

The Federal Aviation Administration has long struggled with a shortage of air traffic controllers and identified fatigue as a factor that might lead to mistakes. Last summer the FAA said it would increase the minimum time controllers get between shifts starting this year. 

Less than 24 hours after the midair collision, president Donald Trump spoke publicly, blaming the crash on past Democratic leaders and initiatives to boost diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the aviation industry.

“We must have only the highest standards for those who work in our aviation system,” Trump said. “I changed the Obama standards from very mediocre at best to extraordinary. And then when I left office and [Joe] Biden took over, he changed them back to lower than ever before.”

Advocates across the DEI space have criticised Trump’s comments, calling them “disgusting and disgraceful”. 

Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Yvette Clark said: “It is our hope that the outpour of condolences and support from people across our nation will bring solace during this season of bereavement.”

“However, the opportunity to fully focus our sympathies on those who are in mourning and who may not have even retrieved their dearly departed was marred by a truly disgusting and disgraceful display of racist political prognostication,” she said, referring to Trump’s remarks on DEI.

A ranking member of a Senate subcommittee on aviation safety, Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth criticised Trump for speculating on the crash’s cause ahead of investigation findings, saying he was “clueless” for already assigning blame.

“It is pretty sad that the commander-in-chief, at a time when family members of those military aircrew members just lost their loved one … to immediately start blaming and questioning the competence of the crew members in that aircraft,” said Duckworth.

The National Transportation Safety Board Chair, Jennifer Homendy said, at a press conference on Thursday, that the NTSB are investigating the circumstances of the crash and will “leave no stone unturned”. 

A preliminary report from the NTSB is expected to be released within 30 days.

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