On January 29, 2025, a tragic mid-air collision occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport involving an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The accident resulted in the loss of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft.
In response to this incident, President Donald Trump expressed his condolences and raised concerns about the circumstances leading to the collision. He emphasized that the airplane was on a standard approach path to the airport, while the helicopter appeared to be on a direct course toward the plane for an extended period. Highlighting the clear weather conditions at the time, President Trump questioned why the helicopter did not alter its altitude or course to avoid the collision and why air traffic control did not provide more directive instructions to the helicopter. He concluded that the situation seemed preventable and described it as “NOT GOOD!!!”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have initiated investigations to determine the factors contributing to this tragic event. As the investigation is ongoing, further details will be provided as they become available.