AssetID: 54478193
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Mid-Air Collision Over DC Leaves 67 Dead; Recovery Efforts Underway
Caption: Mid-Air Collision Over DC Leaves 67 Dead; Recovery Efforts Underway. A tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River has claimed 67 lives. The accident occurred as the plane approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night. More than 300 responders were deployed to the scene, but authorities confirmed there were no survivors. The search and rescue operation has now shifted to a recovery mission. DC Fire Chief John Donnelly reported that 40 bodies have been recovered so far. Speaking at the White House on Thursday, President Donald Trump suggested that diversity hiring efforts at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may have contributed to the crash. He said the tragedy should be a "wake-up call" about safety in air travel. Initial reports from the FAA revealed that staffing at Reagan National Airport’s control tower was "not normal" at the time of the crash. A single controller was overseeing both plane and helicopter traffic instead of the usual dedicated helicopter controller. Following the crash, Trump appointed Chris Rocheleau as acting FAA administrator. The agency had been without a permanent leader since former chief Michael Whitaker stepped down on January 20. Trump accused the previous administration of lowering hiring standards for air traffic controllers. "We need the best and brightest," he said, claiming that the FAA had been recruiting workers with "severe intellectual disabilities and psychiatric conditions." The American Association of People with Disabilities condemned Trump's comments, stating, "FAA employees with disabilities did not cause this tragedy. It is inappropriate to exploit this event to push an anti-diversity agenda." Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on X that he is working on a plan to "fix the FAA" and will release details soon. Senate hearings on aviation safety are expected in the coming weeks. The accident is the deadliest US air disaster since 2001, when an American Airlines flight crashed in New York, killing 260 people. It is also the worst collision involving a commercial flight since 2009. The US Army and Pentagon have launched a formal investigation into the collision. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that military training exercises near Reagan National Airport will also be reviewed. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Mid-Air,DC,Leaves,Recovery,Efforts,Underway,US,Army,Black Hawk,Helicopter,Potomac River,Ronald Reagan Washington,National,Airport,Passenger,Jet,American Airlines,Donald Trump,Accident,Collision
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