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'No survivors': Trump confirms all on board both aircrafts died in crash

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ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Following the deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport, President Donald Trump took to the White House press briefing room to provide some updates.

After a brief moment of silence for the victims, Trump recapped the details of the incident. He confirmed that "sadly, there are no survivors." He announced that the first responders' work was shifted from a rescue mission to a recovery mission as a result.

"We will state certain opinions," Trump said as he shifted to personal speculation regarding the cause of the crash. It is worth noting, the internal investigation being conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and the U.S. Military has not concluded.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives were routinely pointed to as a possible reason for the crash. Specifically, Trump claimed that the hiring practices of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the Biden administration were to blame.

“The FAA was actively recruiting people with severe mental disabilities,” said Trump as he mentioned how he plans to hire the "best" and "brightest" moving forward.

Trump mentioned that he had seen and heard pertinent tapes leading up to the collision. He confirmed that the passenger plane was doing a routine landing with no abnormalities on their end, it was the military helicopter's flight path that Trump had questioned.

Trump mentioned that visibility was not to blame for the crash, the plane had followed procedure and turned on their landing lights before the crash. He also expressed confusion at the helicopter being at the same altitude as the plane.

Regarding the actions of the air traffic controller, Trump said their directions to the helicopter were given within a tight time frame. He then noted that the helicopter pilot "did the opposite of what it was told."

Trump summed up the incident as a "confluence of bad decisions that were made."

The conference then pivoted back to placing the blame on the Biden administration and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Trump stated that an executive order he issued during his first term, which eliminated DEI in the FAA, would have prevented this tragedy had Biden not overturned it.

Trump then introduced members of his freshly sworn-in cabinet to provide some comments on the situation.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy praised Trump's leadership. He echoed the president's sentiments about DEI practices in the FAA, pledging to follow Trump's directive.

"We will not accept excuses, we will not accept passing the buck, we are going to take responsibility at the Department of Transportation and FAA,” said Duffy.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Vice President JD Vance similarly gave tribute to Trump's leadership. They promised to promote a color-blind culture within the government.

Trump returned to the press pool after Vance's remarks. He was asked about the foreign figure skaters who were on the plane and whether their bodies would be returned to their home countries. Trump said he would be in contact with world leaders to coordinate the return of their bodies.

“My original order should not have been changed, and then I think you wouldn’t have had this problem,” said Trump as he concluded.

WATCH: Full press conference at Ronald Reagan National Airport

FULL PRESS CONFERENCE: 28 bodies recovered from helicopter and plane crash, no survivors expected

An American Airlines jet with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard collided Wednesday with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River.

At least 28 bodies were pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac, officials said.

Crews were still searching for other casualties but did not believe there were any survivors, which would make it the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly 24 years.

The body of the plane was found upside down in three sections in waist-deep water. The wreckage of the helicopter was also found. Three soldiers were on board.

VIEWER WARNING: Raw footage of plane crash with helicopter

Raw footage: Plane collides with Black Hawk helicopter at Reagan Airport

President Donald Trump said he had been “fully briefed on this terrible accident" and, referring to the passengers, added, “May God Bless their souls.”

Russian figure skaters are among the victims

Two Russian figure skating coaches whose son recently finished fourth at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships were among those feared dead after an American Airlines and an Army helicopter collided crashed into the frigid waters of the Potomac River.

U.S. Figure Skating confirmed that several skaters, coaches and family members were on the commercial flight after attending a development camp that followed the national championships that ended Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.

Two of those killed were Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were well-known Russian skaters but have been coaching at the Skating Club of Boston since 2017.

Officials say they do not believe anyone survived in the Wednesday crash. The American Airlines jet had 60 passengers and four crew members. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.

Watch: Aircraft reported in Potomac River as Reagan National Airport issues ground stop

Aircraft reported in Potomac River as Reagan National Airport issues ground stop

FAA joins NTSB in investigation of midair collision

Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration will join the NTSB-led investigation of Wednesday night’s midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport.

The NTSB is leading the investigation.

Airport to reopen at 11 a.m. after deadly crash

Located along the Potomac River, just southwest of Washington, D.C., the Ronald Reagan National Airport is a popular choice because it’s much closer to the U.S. capital than the larger Dulles International Airport.

All takeoffs and landings from Reagan Airport were halted following the crash. It will reopen at 11 a.m. Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced.

Watch: American Airlines CEO statement on crash

American Airlines CEO statement on CRJ 5342 crash

Fire chief confident that remains of victims will be recovered

Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly says he’s confident that the remains of those killed in the crash will be recovered, but it may take some time. At least 28 bodies have been recovered.

Officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet coming from Wichita, Kansas was making a routine landing when the helicopter flew into its path. Three soldiers were on board the helicopter during a training flight, an Army official said.

American Airlines has sent up centers in Washington and Wichita, Kansas, for people searching for information about family members and families.

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A helicopter uses its searchlight as it flies above the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Duffy says accident was “absolutely" preventable

Asked about President Donald Trump suggesting in an overnight social media post that the collision could have been prevented, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “Do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.

Duffy also said passengers should be “assured” that flying is safe.

“I would just say that everyone who flies in American skies expects that we fly safely. That when you depart an airport, you get to your destination. That didn’t happen last night and I know that President Trump, his administration, the FAA, the DOT, we will not rest until we have answers for the families and for the flying public. You should be assured that when you fly, you’re safe.”

27 people traveling on American Airlines jet confirmed dead

First responders have recovered the bodies of 27 passengers from the American Airlines jet that collided with the helicopter, officials say.

The body of the plane was found upside down in three sections in waist-deep water. The wreckage of the helicopter was also found.

Officials said they were still searching for other casualties but did not believe there were any other survivors, which would make it the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly 24 years.

Multiple fatalities in crash between plane, Black Hawk helicopter at Reagan Airport

Families anxious for news for those on the AA flight

Hamaad Raza is waiting for news from authorities about the fate of his wife, who he said was among 60 passengers on the American Airlines flight from Wichita.

Raza said he was waiting for the plane when his wife texted that her flight was 20 minutes from landing.

When his messages failed to be delivered he became concerned.

“That’s when I realized something might be up,” Raza told WUSA-TV.

His 26-year-old wife, who he didn’t name, had flown to Wichita, Kansas, for work.

“I’m just praying that somebody’s pulling her out of the river as we speak,” Raza said. “That’s all I can pray for.”

"President Trump is working..."

Trump says collision ‘looks like it should have been prevented’

In a post on Truth Social, Trump questioned the tactics of the military helicopter and the air traffic controllers — both agencies that report to him as the president.

Writing that the “airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach for an extended period of time” on a “CLEAR NIGHT,” Trump questioned, “why didn’t the helicopter go up or down or turn,” and “why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane.”

“What a terrible night this has been. God Bless you all!” he added in a subsequent post.