D.C. Plane Crash Live Updates: Trump Criticizes FAA’s DEI Hiring Policies And Suggests, Without Evidence, They Could Be To Blame

President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed there were no survivors among the 67 people aboard a passenger plane and military helicopter that collided midair outside Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. late Wednesday, before blaming Federal Aviation Administration DEI hiring practices from Joe Biden and Barack Obama’s administrations, without evidence.

Search and rescue efforts are seen around a wreckage site in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan … [+] Washington National Airport.

Timeline

Jan. 30, 12:30 p.m. ESTAmerican Airlines has reportedly canceled two flights scheduled to fly from Wichita, Kansas to Washington, and vice versa Thursday.

Jan. 30, 12:15 p.m. ESTSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized Trump’s response to the crash, saying his “conspiracy theories” “turn your stomach.”

Jan. 30, 11:30 a.m. ESTTrump, in a press briefing, boasted about an executive order he issued last week ending diversity, equity and inclusion hiring within the Federal Aviation Administration, and suggested without proof that people with “severe intellectual disabilities” had been hired as air traffic controllers under the Obama and Biden administrations. He said only “naturally talented geniuses” would be hired for the job under his new policies. He later said “we don’t know that necessarily (the crash) is even the controller’s fault.”

When asked how he could have determined diversity hiring practices were to blame for the crash without evidence, Trump said, “because I have common sense. And, unfortunately, a lot of people don’t.”

Jan. 30, 11:24 a.m. ESTTrump appointed Chris Rocheleau, a 22-year veteran of the FAA currently serving as deputy administrator, as acting commissioner of the agency. The FAA has not had a chief since Mike Whitaker resigned on Jan. 20.

Jan. 30, 11:20 a.m. ESTTrump confirmed there are no survivors in the crash and said called the incident a “real tragedy” while thanking the local first responders for being “so quick, so fast” to respond.

Jan. 30, 11 a.m. ESTFlights started taking off from and arriving to Reagan National Airport, the first since all planes to and from the airport were grounded following the crash.

Jan. 30, 11 a.m. ESTFAA employees were not part of a sweeping buyout offer made by Trump to millions of federal employees earlier this week in an attempt to downsize the federal workforce, the Associated Press reported citing an anonymous source.

Jan. 30, 10:30 a.m. ESTDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Army helicopter involved in the crash was was flying from Fort Belvoir, Va., was being flown by “a fairly experienced crew” and was conducting “a required annual night evaluation” flight.

Jan. 30, 8:10 a.m. ESTDuffy ignored a question from a reporter at a press conference Thursday morning asking if an acting director of the FAA has been appointed after the former chief, Whitaker, who was pressured for months by presidential confidant Elon Musk to resign, stepped down earlier this month.

Jan. 30, 8:10 a.m. ESTDuffy said the crash was “absolutely” preventable, adding that there was “not a breakdown” in communication between the military helicopter and the commercial plane, and that U.S. military helicopters routinely fly near the Potomac River.

Jan. 30, 7:45 a.m. ESTWashington’s Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said emergency responders were switching over from a rescue to a recovery operation, adding “at this point we don’t believe there are any survivors.” Donnelly added that responders have recovered the bodies of 27 of the 64 people onboard the plane and one of the three people onboard the Black Hawk helicopter.

Jan 30, 7:40 a.m. ESTDuffy said authorities located both the crashed aircraft and the passenger plane’s fuselage, which was in split into three and found in waist-deep water in the Potomac River.

Jan 29, 11:15 p.m. EST After the crash, all takeoffs and landings were halted at Reagan National and officials said operations at the airport will remain halted at least until 11:00 a.m. EST on Thursday.

Jan 29, 11:19 p.m. EST Trump posted about the incident on his Truth Social platform and questioned the helicopter operator and air controllers’ handling of the situation: “The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”

Jan 29, 11:00 p.m. ESTWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News host Sean Hannity that Trump has been briefed about the incident and both federal and local law enforcement are working “to try to save as many lives as possible.”

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.

Crucial Quote

“As one nation we grieve for every previous soul that has been taken from us so suddenly,” Trump said. “We are in mourning.”

What Do We Know About The Crash?

A Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operated by PSA Airlines, a regional carrier owned by American Airlines, collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter while approaching the runway at Reagan airport for landing. The incident took place shortly before 9 p.m. local time according to the FAA. The Bombardier jet—which originated in Wichita, Kansas—was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, American Airlines said, making the flight fairly full (a CRJ700 regional jet can usually seat between 60 and 80 passengers). The chopper involved in the crash was a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter carrying three people, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed in a press conference after midnight on Thursday.

What Do We Know About The Rescue And Recovery Efforts?

In press conference early on Thursday, Donnelly said the first units arrived at the scene at 8:58 p.m. local time, 10 minutes after they first received an alert, “and found an aircraft in the water and began rescue operations.” Donnelly said 300 emergency responders are on the scene and they are working on a “highly complex operation” due to “extremely rough” and windy conditions.

What Do We Know About The Number Of Casualties?

No official casualty count has been released yet, but Donnelly said there are believed to be no survivors.

What Do We Know About The Passengers Onboard?

Details about the passengers on board the plane and the helicopter are limited. However, U.S. Figure Skating—the official governing body for figure skating in the country—said “several members” of its community were on the plane. “These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the national development camp held in conjunction with the US figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas.” Russian state news outlet TASS reported that a former world champion pairs figure skater duo from the country was also onboard the plane.

What Has President Donald Trump Said About The Potomac Plane Crash?

In an official statement, Trump said “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”

What Have Other Federal Officials Said About The Potomac Plane Crash?

Vice President J.D. Vance wrote on X: “Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best.” Transport Secretary Sean Duffy announced he was “on site at the FAA HQ and closely monitoring the situation,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted the Pentagon was “actively monitoring” and is “poised to assist if needed.” Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, tweeted: “We are deploying every available US Coast Guard resource for search and rescue efforts in this horrific incident at DCA.”

Key Background

The area around Reagan National Airport is heavily congested and tightly controlled, with a busy airport sitting in close proximity to sensitive sites like the Pentagon and Washington, D.C. Serious crashes involving large passenger jets are exceedingly rare in the United States. Wednesday’s incident is the first fatal crash of a U.S. commercial airliner since the the Colgan Air crash in upstate New York in 2009, which killed 50 people. It is the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. since Nov. 12, 2001, when an American Airlines flight crashed in New York and killed all 260 people on board. The last crash on U.S. soil involving a commercial airliner took place in 2013, when a plane operated by South Korean carrier Asiana Airlines crashed in San Francisco, killing three people and injuring 187.

Luxury House