President Donald Trump says DC plane crash could have been caused by DEI hires

After an American Airlines plane collided with an Army helicopter—leaving no survivors—President Donald Trump said the crash may have been caused by diversity hires not having enough "brainpower." Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, or DEI, has been a hotly contested topic since well before the election. The cause of the crash is still unknown, but federal officials believe there are no survivors. The Bombardier CRJ700 series is a Canadair regional jet that was operated by PSA Airlines under the American Eagle badging. At least 28 bodies have been recovered Thursday morning after a passenger jet and a U.S. Army helicopter collided midair Wednesday night near Reagan National Airport (DCA), causing both aircraft to crash into the Potomac River and forcing a ground stop at the airport, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said. -------------------------------------------------- For more on the lead story: https://komonews.com/newsletter-daily/plane-crash-dc-dca-ronald-reagan-airport-american-airlines-army-helicopter-potomac-river-collision-washington-video-fatal-rescue-recovering-faa-ntsb-passenger-military-donald-trump-disaster-midair-survivors-figure-staking-boats-bodies-wichita-kansas _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: KOMO News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KOMONews/ KOMO News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/komonews KOMO News on Instagram: http://instagram.com/komo4 KOMO News on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@komo4seattle Subscribe to KOMO on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC__2_0RJ8XnHt2angfw6S1Q/?sub_confirmation=1 Watch more top local news stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G97AyNO_3IE&list=PLZm7uq7_dyY6qhFFIwgXRvYpkaOnZEabc&index=2&t=0s For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit http://www.komonews.com/ Watch our live newscasts and other live video at https://komonews.com/watch Download our iOS App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/komo-news-mobile/id433508161?mt=8 Download our Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.newssynergy.komo&hl=en Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: tips@komonews.com Call the Newsroom: 206.404.4000 KOMO News (ABC 4) provides the latest breaking news, sports, weather, traffic, and local event coverage in the Seattle and Western Washington/Puget Sound area including Bellevue, Redmond, Renton, Kent, Tacoma, Bellingham, Yakima, and surrounding communities. "At this point, we don't believe there are any survivors from this accident," said D.C. Fire and EMS John Donnelly. "We have recovered 27 people from the plane, one from the helicopter. The District Office of Medical Examiner has been on reuniting these bodies with their loved ones, and we will continue to work and reunite them." D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other officials provided additional updates during a press conference at 7:30 a.m. Thursday. "I speak for all of us when I say it's certainly very sad for American Airlines, for the United States Department of Defense, and for all Americans, for the loss of life that happened with the collision of these aircrafts. We know that includes families from across our region, as well as in Kansas and across the country, Bowser said." The American Airlines passenger jet coming from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, federal officials said. Three Army personnel were onboard the military helicopter, according to the U.S. Army. The crash happened just before 9 p.m., according to D.C. police and fire officials, when the regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to the runway. On Thursday morning, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief Donnelly said the American Airlines flight was descending in a standard flight pattern as it was coming into DCA. “At 8:53 p.m., multiple calls were received for an aircraft crash above the Potomac River,” D.C. officials said Wednesday. “D.C. Fire and EMS, the Metropolitan Police Department, and multiple partner agencies are currently coordinating a search and rescue operation in the Potomac River.” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said the plane was found upside down. #komo #komonews #komo4 #komo4news #seattle #seattlenews #washingtonnews #planecrash #americanairlines #crash #helicopter #potomac #potomacriver #dc #washingtondc #trump #presidenttrump #president #hegseth #jdvance #vance This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com