Aircraft Collision

“On final approach into Reagan National, [the plane] collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach. At this time, we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the [commercial] aircraft.” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed both the shock and confusion surrounding a collision between an Army helicopter and a passenger plane carrying 64 people as it approached Reagan National Airport. “All 64 people aboard an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter were feared dead in what was likely to be the worst U.S. aviation disaster in almost a quarter century … At least 28 bodies were pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac River.”

+ The Guardian: How did Washington DC plane crash unfold?

+ “Skating is a very close and tight-knit community. These kids and their parents, they’re here at our facility in Norwood, six, sometimes seven days a week. It’s a close, tight bond. This will have long-reaching impacts for our skating community.” Two teenage figure skaters, their mothers and two world champion coaches from Boston were among the 14 members of the skating community killed in the crash.

+ Donald Trump began his press conference about the crash with a moment of silence. Sadly, that moment ended. Without evidence, Trump pondered the causes of the crash blaming maybe the helicopter pilots, maybe DEI, definitely Biden, Obama, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg who had run the agency “right into the ground with his diversity.” He didn’t mention that no such crashes happened during the tenures of any of those he attacked. He also didn’t mention that the FAA had no leader. “The administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Michael Whitaker, resigned from his position on January 20 after repeated demands from Elon Musk that he quit.” Here’s the latest from WaPo, AP, NBC, and CNN.

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