Trump's controversial comments on diversity hiring spark major backlash online

A collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter at Reagan Airport killed 67, the worst in 20 years.

The crash, which occurred on January 30, involved 64 people aboard the plane and three soldiers in the helicopter. Authorities have confirmed there were no survivors.

Despite an ongoing investigation, former President Donald Trump blamed federal diversity initiatives, claiming without evidence that hiring standards have been compromised. He suggested that efforts under his predecessor, Joe Biden, to promote diversity within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could have contributed to the crash. However, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated there was no indication of communication failures or irregular flight patterns.

The crash took place in a high-traffic airspace near Washington, D.C., raising concerns about Reagan National Airport’s crowded runways. Air traffic control recordings indicate that controllers warned the helicopter of the approaching jet and instructed it to change course.

Among the victims were U.S. and Russian figure skaters, including former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The skating community expressed deep sorrow over the loss.

Trump’s comments sparked outrage online, with critics accusing him of politicizing the tragedy. Social media users and aviation experts pushed back, pointing out that there was no evidence linking diversity efforts to the crash.

Officials continue to investigate the cause of the accident, with dive teams recovering one of the plane’s black boxes. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin stated that most bodies had been recovered, and authorities are analyzing crash data for further insights.