The passenger jet that collided with an Army helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., that left 67 people dead, had been diverted to a different runway at the last minute as it was descending to Reagan National Airport by an air traffic control tower that was understaffed at the time, according to reports. 

Amid the start of the search for the cause of the crash, President Trump doubled down on his attacks on diversity programs in the FAA. The president began his assault during a press conference Thursday morning, in which he said it was “common sense” that DEI played a role in the tragedy, and stepped it up later in the day when the White House announced it was reviewing all of the agency’s hiring decisions over the last four years and replacing anyone who did not meet “qualification standards.”

American Airlines Flight 5342 had originally been cleared to land at runway 1, the main landing area for the airport, but the pilot was asked by air traffic control to make a circle in the final moments before the crash to come around and make a landing on a separate intersecting runway, according to the New York Times.

Air traffic control is reported to have asked the helicopter crew if they had seen the aircraft and instructed them to “pass behind the CRJ,” according to Wired. The jet would have had the right away unless the Blackhawk was on an urgent military mission which it was not.

The jet pilots may not have been able to see the helicopter in time to prevent the crash.

“They would be very focused on the final approach on the actual landing on the runway. It would be very difficult to do anything at the end,” Marco Chan, a former pilot and head of pilot programs at Buckinghamshire New University, said to Wired. “[The Black Hawk] would have been under the wing and flying toward the tail, and the pilots in the cockpit, they are at the front. It would have been very difficult for them to spot the helicopter.”

An internal report from the FAA says that the controller who was on duty at the time of the crash was handling responsibilities normally handled by a two-person team, The Times reported.

Meanwhile, Trump spoke to the media Thursday morning about  the tragic plane and helicopter collision over the Potomac River, casting blame on diversity programs and previous Democratic administrations — a press conference that occurred while the recovery effort was still underway.

“The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website,” Mr. Trump said. “They have to be talented, naturally talented geniuses. You can’t have regular people doing their job.”

The cause of the crash has not been determined and Mr. Trump offered no evidence to back up his claims about DEI being responsible for the tragedy. 

“How can you come to the conclusion right now that diversity had something to do with this crash,” a reporter in the briefing room asked of Mr. Trump.

“Because I have common sense, okay,”  the president replied.

The president confirmed that there were no survivors of the American Airlines commuter jet and military helicopter mid-air collision. 

“As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly,” he said, adding that the U.S. Military and the National Transportation Safety Board would be heading the investigation into the incident.

Mr. Trump also took the opportunity to criticize the previous Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, claiming that his DEI efforts had led standards at the FAA to slip.

“That guy’s a real winner. He’s a disaster,” he said.

Mr. Buttigieg responded to Mr. Trump’s remarks shortly after in a post on x.

“Despicable. As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” he wrote. “We put safety first, drove down close calls, grew Air Traffic Control, and had zero commercial airline crash fatalities out of millions of flights on our watch.”

“President Trump now oversees the military and the FAA. One of his first acts was to fire and suspend some of the key personnel who helped keep our skies safe. Time for the President to show actual leadership and explain what he will do to prevent this from happening again.”

Mr. Trump then called current Secretary Sean Duffy to the podium to speak before saying, “It’s not your fault.”

“When Americans take off in airplanes, they should expect to land at their destination,” Secretary Duffy said at the podium. “We will not accept excuses.”

Several key members of his cabinet were also in attendance. They echoed Mr. Trump’s sentiment that diversity programs may be to blame. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth LAO said they are looking into the altitude of the Blackhawk helicopter playing a role in the crash, an issue that was repeatedly raised by the president. 

In response to questions from reporters, Mr. Trump vowed to dismiss air traffic officials who “aren’t mentally competent.”

When asked if Americans should be worried about flying in the coming days, Mr. Trump said they should not. According to the Associated Press, he will fly to his home at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Friday.

“I would not hesitate to fly,” he said. “Flying is very safe.”

Later Thursday, Mr. Trump doubled down later on his comments at the morning press conference, signing a memorandum to end DEI practices at the FAA. He also signed an executive order to appoint a new head for the agency.

“This shocking event follows problematic and likely illegal decisions during the Obama and Biden Administrations that minimized merit and competence in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).” Mr. Trump said in a statement announcing the orders.

“On my second day in office, I ordered an immediate return to merit-based recruitment, hiring, and promotion, elevating safety and ability as the paramount standard.  Yesterday’s devastating accident tragically underscores the need to elevate safety and competence as the priority of the FAA.”