Trump Questions "Why Didn't the Accident Helicopter Change Direction?"

Raises Issue on His Social Media Truth Social
Claims "A Bad Situation That Could Have Been Prevented"

U.S. President Donald Trump on the 29th (local time) described the collision accident between a passenger plane and a military helicopter near the Potomac River in Washington DC as a "bad situation that could have been prevented."

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social that day, President Trump said, "The passenger plane was on a perfect and routine approach path to the airport, but the helicopter had been heading straight toward the passenger plane for a long time." He continued, "It was a clear night and the passenger plane's lights were on, so why didn't the helicopter climb, descend, or change direction?" He also questioned, "Why did the control tower only ask the helicopter what to do instead of instructing it to take action, and instead just asked about the passenger plane?" Then President Trump said, "This is a bad situation that should have been prevented. It's not good."

On the 30th (local time), emergency responders are conducting rescue operations near the Potomac River in Washington, USA, after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter and crashed. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News.

President Trump's claim is presumed to be based on the situation revealed in a recording of communications between the airport controller and the helicopter pilot just before the accident. In the communication obtained by CNN, the controller asked the helicopter pilot, mentioning the passenger plane model CRJ700, "Do you see the passenger plane?" When the helicopter pilot replied, "I see it," the controller instructed, "Move behind the aircraft," but this was not carried out, and the accident eventually occurred. CNN also reported that it is unclear whether Trump's post was based on officially briefed information. Earlier, President Trump said he had been informed of the accident and wished, "May God bless the souls of those (victims)."

The U.S. military helicopter collided with a small passenger plane operated by PSA, a subsidiary of American Airlines, around 8:53 p.m. near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington DC. The passenger plane was attempting to land when the collision occurred, causing it to crash into the Potomac River. There were 60 passengers and 4 crew members on the passenger plane, and 3 people on the helicopter. The exact number of casualties has not been confirmed, but at least 18 deaths have been reported so far. The helicopter was on a training flight, and it is reported that no military generals or high-ranking officials were on board. As a result of the accident, all takeoffs and landings at Ronald Reagan Airport were suspended, and flights scheduled to land there were diverted to nearby Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.