The midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet near Reagan National Airport is shaping up to be one of the worst aviation disasters in modern U.S. history. Sixty-seven lives lost, debris scattered across the icy Potomac River, and now, an investigation that raises serious questions about airspace safety, air traffic control staffing, and whether political agendas have weakened aviation standards.
President Trump, in his White House press conference, acknowledged the tragedy with a moment of silence, calling it an “hour of anguish” for the country. But after offering condolences, he didn’t hesitate to ask the hard questions—ones the media would rather ignore.
Trump pointed out that the Black Hawk was flying too high, well above the 200-foot limit imposed in that airspace. “That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???” he wrote on Truth Social. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hasn’t confirmed this yet, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has already stated that altitude seemed to be a factor.
Does anyone remember Lloyd Austin personally briefing the public on matters of great public interest?
— Phil Holloway ✈️ (@PhilHollowayEsq) January 30, 2025
And let’s be honest: If Trump had stayed quiet, the media would be attacking him for ignoring the tragedy. But since he’s pointing out facts that might not align with the left’s preferred narrative, they’re accusing him of “speculation.” Meanwhile, many of these same journalists had no problem when Democratic operatives immediately blamed Trump’s air traffic controller hiring freeze—before a single piece of hard evidence was available.
One particularly troubling detail from an FAA report is that, at the time of the crash, a single air traffic controller was managing both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft traffic—duties that are often split between two people. The normal procedure is to consolidate these roles at 9:30 p.m., when air traffic slows. But on this particular night, the supervisor combined them earlier than usual.
Why?
Was this simply a routine operational decision, or was it influenced by chronic understaffing—something the FAA has been struggling with for years? The Biden administration has been busy prioritizing diversity quotas in FAA hiring rather than focusing on ensuring we have the most competent people in these critical roles. Trump made this exact point, stating that under Biden, the FAA was “actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative.”
The media hates that Trump said it out loud, but here’s the reality: if aviation safety is being sacrificed on the altar of DEI, Americans deserve to know.
According to flight control logs, less than 30 seconds before impact, air traffic controllers asked the Black Hawk crew if they had the jetliner in sight. The response? Yes. The military helicopter crew then requested “visual separation,” meaning they voluntarily took responsibility for maintaining a safe distance from the jet. The controller approved the request.
Seconds later, the aircraft collided.
Now, we don’t yet know why the Black Hawk was flying at the altitude it was, or whether confusion played a role. But what we do know is that Reagan National’s airspace is among the most tightly controlled and complex in the world. It demands the best pilots, the best air traffic controllers, and the best oversight. And yet, we’ve spent the last several years watching aviation standards decline—whether it’s near-misses on runways, staffing shortages, or questionable hiring practices.
And let’s not forget, just 24 hours earlier, another regional jet landing at Reagan National had to abort its approach at the last minute due to a military helicopter flying nearby. That incident ended safely. This one didn’t.
Instead of taking these concerns seriously, the media is more focused on scolding Trump for daring to ask questions. CNN, the Washington Post, and the usual suspects are already spinning this as Trump “blaming without evidence.” But what exactly is their plan? Pretend everything is fine? Ignore the fact that something in our aviation system isn’t working?
Meanwhile, as the NTSB continues its investigation, families of the victims are arriving in Washington, struggling to process their unimaginable grief. The identification of victims is underway, and bodies are still being recovered from the water. These people deserve answers, not media-driven political spin.