Foreign nationals among victims of tragic air collision, no survivor – Trump

In what he described as “an hour of anguish for our nation,” President Donald Trump has confirmed that foreign nationals were among the victims of a devastating mid-air collision between an American Airlines commercial flight and a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter.

The accident, which took place over Washington, D.C., resulted in both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River, with no survivors.

Addressing the nation in a solemn press conference, Trump expressed his condolences, stating, “We’re a country in mourning. This has really shaken a lot of people, including people very sadly, from other nations.”

He specifically mentioned that Russian nationals were aboard the flight but did not disclose any further nationalities, promising an official announcement later.

Flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Trump led a moment of silence before detailing the federal response.

He commended search and rescue teams for their swift action but acknowledged that the mission had shifted to recovery efforts.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the U.S. military are now leading an extensive investigation into the cause of the tragedy.

During his remarks, Trump suggested that air traffic control issues might have played a role, though he acknowledged the investigation was in its early stages.

He criticized previous administrations, particularly Barack Obama and Joe Biden, alleging they had appointed “mediocre” staff in critical aviation roles.

He also took aim at former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, claiming that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies had compromised the competency of air traffic controllers—an assertion he provided no evidence to support.

“We don’t know yet what led to this crash, but we have some very strong opinions and ideas,” Trump stated.

He vowed that his administration would ensure a thorough investigation and take steps to prevent a similar tragedy.

In response to a reporter’s question about his comments linking the incident to diversity hiring, Trump doubled down, stating, “There are things you have to go by brain power and psychological quality. We want the brightest, smartest, sharpest, psychologically superior people in air traffic control.”

Regarding the helicopter’s involvement, Trump said it was engaged in a training exercise and appeared to have made an “unbelievably bad” turn, though he did not provide specifics.

He dismissed speculation about whether the helicopter was on a “continuity of government” mission, saying, “I don’t know what that refers to.”

The president assured Americans that air travel remains safe despite the disaster, stating, “No, not at all,” when asked if people should hesitate to fly.

However, he admitted that flight safety warnings in the area had come “very late” and should have been issued earlier.

As investigations continue, Trump announced the appointment of an acting FAA commissioner, signaling immediate policy actions in response to the crisis.