Washington plane crash Highlights | 'It just could have been': Trump on why he blames FAA's diversity hirings for tragedy

American Airlines plane, believed to be carrying 64, crashes with army Black Hawk helicopter; falls into Potomac River in Washington DC

At least two bodies have been recovered following the collision between a helicopter and a plane near Washington's Ronald Reagan International Airport.

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Washington plane crash: Three soldiers were on US Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in collision, say Officials

Three US Army soldiers were onboard a BlackHawk helicopter that collided with a passenger jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, US officials said on Wednesday.

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Washington plane-helicopter collision: Notable crashes on Potomac River

As more details emerge from the incident, we take a look a few previous incidents that occurred over the Potomac river:

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At least 18 bodies recovered from Potomac river

At least 18 bodies have been recovered after a midair collision between a regional passenger jet and a helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport, CBS News reported on Wednesday, citing a police official.

-Reuters

This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented: Trump

American Airlines CEO expresses 'deep sorrow' at Washington crash

"I'd like to express our deep sorrow about these events," said CEO Robert Isom in a video statement, adding: "This is a difficult day for all of us."

-AFP

Rescue ops to last many hours: Washington Reagan airport Fire Chief

Washington Reagan airport fire chief Bonnett said that active operation that will last many hours after Washington plane crash

-Reuters

Jet crash responders face 'extremely rough' conditions on Potomac River: DC fire chief

-AFP

Washington DC fire chief Donnelly: We don't know if there are survivors

-Reuters

What were the aircraft involved in midair crash in Washington DC?

UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter

The Skikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is one of the most ubiquitous and iconic military helicopters, filling multiple roles for the U.S. military, including air assault, general support, medevac, command and control, and special operations support.

The aircraft involved in the Jan. 29 crash was flying with the call sign PAT25 and had three occupants, according to the Aviation Safety Network, a public database of aviation accidents.

More than 5,000 Black Hawks have been built since production began in the mid-1970s.

Bombardier CRJ700

The Bombardier CRJ700, which can seat about 70 people, is a workhorse of regional commercial aviation. There are about 260 of the aircraft in service, according to Cirium, an aviation data company.

The plane in the Jan. 29 crash was registered N530EA and manufactured in 2010, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. There were 60 passengers and four crew members onboard, American Airlines said. The jet was registered to American Airlines but operated by its wholly owned subsidiary, PSA Airlines.

Bombardier sold the CRJ700 program to a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries subsidiary in 2019. Production of new aircraft ceased in 2020.

-Reuters

Helicopter, jet involved in crash both 'in the water' of Potomac River: DC mayor

The wrecked fuselages of both the US military helicopter and the commercial jet involved in a collision over the Potomac River are lying in the water, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser told a press briefing early Thursday.

-AFP

Around 300 personnel working on rescue ops: DC Fire Chief

Search efforts by an estimated 300 responding personnel including divers were impeded by the "very dark, very murky" water at near-frigid temperatures, added Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly.

Social media post claims Army chopper was flying dark, might be reason behind the crash

Hopes of finding survivors dim as DC Fire chief flags challenges to rescue ops

Russian figure skaters Shishkova and Naumov were aboard the plane

World champion Russian figure skaters were aboard crashed U.S. plane, TASS reports (Reuters)

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Russia's Vadim Naumov lifts up his partner Evgenia Shishkova during the free skating to win the pairs event of the NHK Trophy figure skating grand prix in Nagoya, central Japan December 9, 1995

Team USA pair skater Luke Wang confirms that many US Figure Skating Championship contestants and coaches are believed to have been on the jet

What’s the latest on the search efforts?

All takeoffs and landings from the airport are halted until at least 11:00 am ET Thursday. Dive teams are scouring the site and helicopters from law enforcement agencies across the region are flying over the scene in methodical search for bodies. (AP)

American Airlines CEO says company is focused on needs of passengers, families and crew after midair collision

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed “deep sorrow” for the crash and said the company was focused on the needs of passengers, crew, first responders and families and loved ones of those involved. (AP)

LISTEN: Air traffic control audio recorded moments before crash

A dive team has found what appears to be one of the plane's two data recorders, CBS reports

A dive team recovered one of the two data recorders — the so-called black boxes - from the American Airlines regional passenger's plane that crashed near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday, CBS News reported. (Reuters)

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has said officials will hold the next media briefing at 7:30 am ET

'Crash, crash, crash, this is an alert three': Air traffic controller

In a new release of more air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net, one of the air traffic controllers can be heard saying, "Crash, crash, crash, this is an alert three."

"I don't know if you caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach into 33. We're going to be shutting down operations for the indefinite future," another controller remarked.

"Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river," a third air traffic controller can be heard saying.

"It was probably out in the middle of the river," the controller said. "I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven't seen anything since they hit the river. But it was a CRJ and a helicopter that hit."

Kremlin expresses condolences to the families of Russian citizens aboard the plane

The Kremlin on Thursday expressed its condolences to the families of Russian citizens who lost their lives in the American Airlines plane crash in Washington on Wednesday night.

Russian ice skating coaches and former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were on board the plane that crashed into the Potomac River after a midair collision near Reagan Washington National Airport.

When asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to offer condolences to U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call, Peskov said there were no plans for high-level contacts for now. (Reuters)

Significant US plane crashes in recent years before Washington crash

- February 12, 2009: a Colgan Air Bombardier aircraft flying from New York to the small town of Buffalo crashes, killing the 49 passengers onboard.

- January 15, 2009: a US Airways Airbus A320 carrying more than 150 people collides with a flock of birds before making a spectacular landing on the Hudson River in New York, thanks to the pilot's exemplary actions.

- August 27, 2006: a regional transport plane uses a wrong, unlit runway, rather than the designated one and crashes shortly after taking off from Lexington airport, Kentucky, killing around 50 people onboard.

- December 19, 2005: a Grumman G-73T Mallard hydroplane operated by Ocean Airways, connecting Miami and an island in the Bahamas, crashes into the sea shortly after takeoff, killing both crew members and 18 passengers.

- October 19, 2004: a BAe Jetstream 32 operated by AmericanConnection crashes near Kirksville, Missouri due to poor visibility. Both pilots and 11 out of the 13 passengers are killed.

- January 8, 2003: a US Airways Beechcraft 1900, flying between Charlotte, North Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina, crashes into a hangar shortly after takeoff. Both pilots and the 19 passengers onboard are killed.

- November 12, 2001: two months after the September 11 attacks, an American Airlines Airbus A-300, flying from New York to Saint-Domingue, crashes shortly after taking off from JFK airport. The 251 passengers and nine crew members are killed. On the ground, several houses are destroyed or damaged, and five residents killed.

- January 13, 1982: an Air Florida Boeing 737-222 hits a bridge over the Potomac before crashing into the river just after takeoff during a snowstorm. The crash kills 78 people including four motorists who were on the bridge.

Investigation must determine why Black Hawk did not maintain 'visual separation' from airplane: Expert

A CNN report highlighted what the investigation into the crash will likely focus on, speaking to aviation expert Tony Stanton from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

“It’s very clear, looking at the flight paths of the aircraft and the radio transmissions, that the Black Hawk was asked to maintain visual separation from Flight 5342 for some reason –– and we don’t know that reason,” Stanton said.

“That’s one of the areas that I would be interested in examining as an investigator. What caused the Black Hawk crew not to comply with the clearance they were provided?” he added.

Stanton explained that, unlike most other ATC towers, Washington Tower has two radio frequencies used to communicate with airborne aircraft –– with one frequency used for rotorcraft helicopters and another one for other aircraft.

“So in this circumstance, you would have had the Black Hawk talking to the tower on one frequency, and you would have had Flight 5342 talking to the tower on another frequency,” he said, adding that the crash may have resulted in “a barrier of situational awareness between the pilots.”

Pentagon to launch investigation

Freezing, deep waters of Potomac River complicate rescue efforts

The river that weaves past the nation's capital is about 24 feet deep (about 7.3 meters) near the city, according to the United States Geological Survey.

According to a Reuters report, the water temperature was around 42.4 degrees Fahrenheit (5.8 Celsius) at the Potomac's mouth in the Chesapeake Bay on Jan. 28.

A large-scale and "extremely complex" search and rescue operation is underway.

Over 300 rescuer workers are mobilized in "extremely difficult" conditions, according to Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly.

"It's pitch dark. The water is cold and murky. These are very difficult conditions for divers," he said.

"There's wind, ice, it's dangerous."

Rescue operations are expected to last several day, as per authorities.

Reagan Airport will reopen at 11 am on Thursday: Federal Aviation Administration

'We are heartbroken': International Skating Union

ISU Statement: "The International Skating Union (ISU) and the global skating community are deeply shocked by the tragic accident involving an American Airlines flight in Washington, D.C. last night. We are heartbroken to learn that Figure Skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, are understood to be among those on board. 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. We remain in close contact with U.S. Figure Skating and offer our full support during this incredibly difficult time."

At least 18 bodies recovered: CBS News

Reagan National is 'one of the most complex airports for pilots to approach': Former FAA accident investigator

The location of Reagan National makes flying into that airport one of the most complicated jobs for commercial pilots flying in the US, a former FAA accident investigator said, as per a CNN report.

“Not only is it (one of) the busiest, it’s the most complex airport,” said David Soucie, CNN's Safety Analyst. “There’s military and commercial together. There’s flight restrictions on where you can fly, what kind of approaches you have to make, and there’s demands on how quickly those airplanes have to come in and out.”

The airport sits just across an interstate from the Pentagon and across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, which has tightly restricted airspace.

Street closures implemented to support the recovery response efforts at the Potomac River

Spectators mark a minute of silence in memory of victims who lost their lives at ISU European Figure Skating Championships

Spectators at the ISU European Figure Skating Championship in Tallinn, Estonia, mark a minute of silence in memory of victims who lost their lives in the American Airlines plane crash

Rescuers have yet to find any survivors in the river

Investigation launched immediately by Army & DoD: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Washington mayor and officials are due to give a briefing

Nearly 12 hours into the rescue operation, most of which was carried out in pitch darkness, no word of any survivors being found.

WATCH: Officials hold news conference on American Airlines jet crash near DC

Switching from rescue to recovery: Officials at press briefing

28 bodies recovered, no survivors expected: Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief

John Donnelly, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief said the control tower sounded an alert at 8.48pm, and 300 people were mobilized.

 "At this point, we don't believe there are any survivors from this accident and we have recovered 27 people from their plane and one from the helicopter."

 "We are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation."

Will continue working to recover all bodies, their identification to reunite them with their loved ones: John Donnelly, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief

'Heartbroken for passengers and crew members': Robert Isom, CEO American Airlines

"This is devastating. We are all hurting incredibly."

"Just before 9 p.m. local time, on final approach into Reagan National, it collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach. At this time, we don't know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft."

'This morning we all share in a profound sense of grief': Mayor Muriel Bowser

"I speak for all of us when I say, and certainly all Washingtonians, how, very sad we are."

"This morning we all share in a profound sense of grief."

 "I do want to thank the first responders who acted quickly last night, who ran towards danger, went into a very frigid river, and have worked throughout the night."

'Fuselage of the American airline, plane was inverted. It's been located in three different sections': US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

"This was a clear night, last night."

"The helicopter was in a standard pattern .... the American Airlines flight coming into land was in a standard flight pattern."

"The fuselage of the American airline, plane was inverted. It's been located in three different sections. It's in about waist deep water."

'We don't believe there are any survivors from this accident': John Donnelly, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief

It's a time to investigate and get answers to the questions we need: Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia

The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate: Mayor Muriel Bowser

Mayor Muriel Bowser said there was nothing to "suggest any other aircraft are implicated."

She declined to say if the black boxes had been recovered.

'The question is, can I guarantee the American flying public that, the United States has, the most safe and secure airspace in the world? Yes, we do': US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at the press briefing reassured the 'American flying public' saying, "So the question is, can I guarantee the American flying public that, the United States has, the most safe and secure airspace in the world? And the answer to that is absolutely. Yes, we do. We have early indicators of what happened here. And I will tell you with complete confidence, we have the safest airspace in the world."

"It is not standard to have aircraft collide, I want to be clear on that. But prior to the collision, the flight paths that were being flown from the military and from American, that was not unusual for what happens in the DC airspace."

When asked about potential blind spots with traffic control, he added: "I think whether it was air traffic control, whether it was military aircraft, helicopters or the American flight, everything was standard in the lead up to the crash. Obviously, something happened here. You'll get more information in more details as this investigation moves forward."

'Airport will open at 11 a.m': Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority CEO Jack Carter

The National Transportation Safety Board will now take the lead, officials said, including making contact with victims' families

'I would say the helicopter was aware that there was a plane in the area': US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

"I would say the helicopter was aware that there was a plane in the area."

Duffy said the helicopter was classified as a training mission. He said that doesn't mean these were inexperienced pilots, but that "we call these missions that are flown in the DC area as our pilots are getting hours and experience training missions."

He added: "To back up what the president said, what I've seen so far do I think this was preventable? Absolutely," he added.

Sixty-seven people are believed dead: 64 aboard the passenger jet and three on the US Army Black Hawk helicopter

WATCH: Kansas officials hold a news conference

In Wichita, 'everything occurred as normal'

Jesse Romo, Director of Airports for the Wichita Airport Authority, said the flight took off from Wichita without any abnormalities.

Black Hawk's 'vital' tracking system not turned on: Aviation expert

Trump says he has been 'fully briefed' on the midair crash

Tragedy will unite Washington and Wichita 'forever': Kansas Mayor

Washington, DC, and Wichita, Kansas, will be united “forever” by the deadly plane crash, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said in an emotional news conference Thursday morning from her city’s main airport.

“We mourn with all those who have been impacted,” Wu said. “This is a terrible tragedy that will unite those in Washington, DC, and Wichita, Kansas, forever.”

Wu was told bodies had been found and there were no survivors, she said. Twenty-eight bodies had been recovered so far, officials in Washington said earlier Thursday.

US Army unit involved in collision to temporarily pause flights

The US Army unit involved in the overnight collision with a passenger jet near Washington D.C. has been placed on an operational pause, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Thursday, meaning helicopters from that unit will not be flying for the time being.

One of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said helicopters from the 12 Aviation Battalion would be temporarily grounded.

It is not clear how long the pause would last.

Other helicopters, like those from the National Guard, will still be allowed to help in recovery efforts, the official added.

FAA says it will 'quickly take any actions necessary' based on evidence from investigation

Was the collision preventable? 'Absolutely,' says US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

“We are going to wait for all the information to come in from this vantage point, but … what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely,” Duffy said.

'At this time, we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft': Robert Isom, CEO American Airlines

American Airlines CEO Isom seemed to place the blame for the crash on the military helicopter in the Washington press conference.

Plane involved in collision took off without any operational issues: Wichita official

“To our knowledge, everything occurred as normal,” Romo told reporters during a news conference Thursday morning. “So, there was no abnormality to the operation.” Wichita airports director, Jesse Romo, said.

Wichita airport activates team to support victims' families

“Airport staff did activate our family incident support team last night, so if family members did show up to the terminal to have additional information, even for support, we were there with them with our team of volunteers along with other airline staff and representatives,” airport director Jesse Romo said.

American Airlines is also sending more of its own support team members to Wichita to assist both families and crew members, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said.

Trump will speak from White House briefing room this morning on collision at 11 am ET

President Donald Trump is expected to speak from the White House briefing room Thursday morning about the deadly midair collision.

Helicopter unit was on annual training flight by 'fairly experienced crew': Defense Secretary Hegseth

The US Army helicopter involved in an overnight collision with a passenger jet near Washington involved a "fairly experienced crew" that was operating with night vision goggles, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday, as the Pentagon ordered a 48-hour pause in flying for the unit involved in the crash. A US Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger jet on Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, with both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River. The military helicopter was on a training flight, but it is unclear what caused the crash. Authorities have said there were no survivors.

In a video statement, Hegseth said that the crew of three soldiers was on an annual proficiency training flight.

"We anticipate that the investigation will quickly be able to determine whether the aircraft was in the corridor and at the right altitude at the time of the incident," Hegseth said.

The helicopter from the 12th Aviation Battalion, based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, would be grounded for 48 hours, Hegseth said. The unit is responsible for helicopter flights in the Washington D.C. area.

Majority of the bodies of those killed in plane crash have been recovered: Virginia governor

Kash Patel's confirmation hearing for FBI director begins with moment of silence for plane collision

Some flights have been cancelled at Reagan National Airport

'Deeply saddened by the tragic air accident': International Olympic Committee president

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach nodded Thursday to the elite athletes said to have been aboard the doomed American Airlines flight. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic air accident in Washington DC,” Bach said in a statement.

He added, “Our thoughts are with all the victims, their families and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

World champion figure skaters are among several Skating Club of Boston members killed in crash

Six of the people on the plane were affiliated with the Skating Club of Boston, including two teenage skaters and two Russian former world champions, Doug Zeghibe, the club’s executive director, told reporters.

Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, top teen skaters, and their mothers were returning home from U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp in Kansas, along with Russian former skaters Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who coached at the club.

Shishkova and Naumov, who were married, won the world championship in pairs figure skating in 1994.

“Skating is a very close-knit and tight community,” a tearful Zeghibe said. “We have lost family.”

The tragedy will have a profound impact on the World Figure Skating Championships in March, which will be in Boston this year.

Sight-seeing cruise company assists in search and recovery response

“Hornblower Group’s City Cruises Washington, D.C. crew continues to assist in the emergency response to last night’s tragic plane crash on the Potomac,” a representative said. “We thank our Washington, D.C. and Alexandria based crews onboard the National Elite for their rapid response throughout the night.”
The statement added: “Additional support from our Inner Harbor Spirit will now collaborate with local and federal authorities to assist in the search and recovery operation, and we will continue to support in whatever means necessary.”

Former US President Barack Obama offers condolences

Pressure from Musk had caused FAA chief to step down, leaving critical post vacant during deadly crash

Mike Whitaker, who headed up the Federal Aviation Administration during the Biden administration, stepped down ahead of the new administration and the position has yet to be filled, leaving the aviation agency without a key leader during one of the deadliest aviation crashes in American history.

Whitaker had notably clashed with SpaceX CEO and leader of the Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk over the agency’s oversight of rocket launches. Deputy administrator Katie Thomson left January 10, as well, a second key vacancy. Musk called on Whitaker to resign in September, after Whitaker had testified before Congress and faced tough questions about the agency’s oversight of SpaceX. (CNN)

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia says he has been 'very concerned' about congestion around DCA

“In the end, the National Transportation Safety Board will do an investigation of this, and I have high confidence in them, and they’ll look and see what was the cause of this devastating tragedy, and I’m not going to speculate. They’ll do the work, they’re good at it, they’ll give us answers,” Kaine noted.

“But yeah, I’ve been very, very concerned about this very complex airspace, commercial, military, and the way that the security demands of being the nation’s capital put some significant restrictions on it. And I am really worried about that, and I’ve been praying that there wouldn’t have been – there wouldn’t be something like last night, but kind of dreading in my heart that there would be.”

'Too soon to speculate on root cause of the collision': Air Traffic Controllers Union Head Nick Daniels

It is “premature to speculate on root cause” of the deadly collision between a regional jet and helicopter near Reagan National Airport, the head of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said in a letter to its members posted online.

The letter stated: "NATCA mourns the tragic loss of life as a result of the accident that occurred at Washington National (DCA) airport last night between a regional jet and a helicopter. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those affected by this event, and we offer our condolences to our brothers and sisters in ALPA and AFA and all those involved in this tragedy.

I, along with other leaders of NATCA, have been in contact with the members working at DCA to offer assistance and provide the necessary resources at this time.

We cannot comment on the specifics, and it would be premature to speculate on the root cause of this accident. We will wait for the National Transportation Safety Board to complete its work and use that information to help guide decisions and changes to enhance and improve aviation safety.

America’s highly trained and skilled air traffic controllers all do amazing work every day keeping the nation’s passengers and cargo moving safely and efficiently to their destinations. We serve quietly, but events like this remind us of the weight we bear. This job is more than a profession; it’s a responsibility we hold deeply, and when tragedy strikes, it stays with us.

Please stay focused and stay strong as these events unfold.

Thank you all again for the work you do. 

In Solidarity,

Nick Daniels
NATCA President"

WATCH: Trump holds press briefing on aviation disaster

Trump speaks of 'tragedy of terrible proportions' at White House press briefing

The president requested a moment of silence for the victims and their families, for what he called "an hour of anguish for our nation".

Key points of briefing:

• "Sadly there are no survivors"

• "This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation's capital and in our nation's history, and a tragedy of terrible proportions. As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly."

• "We do not know what led to this crash but we have some very strong opinions and ideas."

• "We will find out how this disaster occurred and we will ensure that nothing like this ever happens again."

• "Over the years I've watched as things like this happen and they say, well, we're always investigating. And then the investigation three years later, they announce it. We think we have some pretty good ideas."

• "The FAA and the NTSB and the U.S. military will be carrying out a systematic and comprehensive investigation."

• Said he was appointing Chris Rocheleau as acting commissioner to the FAA.

• "My administration will set the highest possible bar for aviation safety."

• Trump sought to the blame the FAA's diversity push.

• "We'll restore faith in American air travel. I'll have more to say about that."

• "All of this is going to be studied ... some really bad things happened and some things happened that shouldn't have happened."

• He offered up various theories and observations, and said we don't know that it's necessarily the air traffic controllers' fault.

'We are going to get to the bottom of this investigation. Not in three years, not in four years, but as quickly as possible': US Transport Secretary Sean Duffy

Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense gave more details on dead soldiers

Hegseth gave his condolences from the defense department and provided more detail on the service members affected.

"We first and foremost from the Defense Department want to pass our condolences to the 64 souls and their families that were affected by this. Never should happen. And certainly the three service members, the three soldiers: a young captain, staff sergeant, and CW2 chief warrant officer."

 "The military does dangerous things. It does routine things on the regular basis. Tragically, last night, a mistake was made."

Trump, questioned on why he thinks FAA's diversity hirings caused the crash, says 'It just could have been'

When asked why he thought the 'diversity push' at the FAA caused the crash, Trump replied:  “It just could have been. We have a high standard. We’ve had a higher, much higher standard than anybody else."

When pushed further on why he believed so, Trump said: "Because I have common sense and unfortunately a lot of people don't."

Former aides to Pete Buttigieg, who was Secretary of Transportation under the Biden administration, have said the FAA diversity policy was in effect for years including during Trump's first term. Efforts to reach Buttigieg were not immediately successful.

Washington has been in contact with Moscow regarding the deaths of Russians in the air collision: Trump

Asked if the U.S. would facilitate the return of the remains of Russian nationals, Trump said: "The answer is yes, we will facilitate."

Trump says air traffic control systems have not been built properly

"They spent a lot of money renovating a system, spending much more money than they would have spent if they bought a new system for air traffic controllers, meaning the computerized systems. There are certain companies that do a very good job. They didn't use those companies," Trump said.

'Careful and systematic investigations': Senator Ted Cruz

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Commitee chair Senator Ted Cruz said: “Right now we’re in close communication with the relevant authorities trying to just understand what happened. And obviously it was just a few hours ago, but it is horrific and there will be, of course, careful and systematic investigations into precisely what caused the horrific tragedy.”

Cruz said he had spoken to the CEO of American Airlines.

“He is here on the ground now obviously dealing with the families of those who lost their lives in the horrific crash and trying to piece together what exactly happened, and that will take some time, but there will be a careful investigation and there needs to be," Cruz added.

Planes are starting to land and take off from Reagan National Airport