Washington, D.C. – A midair collision between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, has raised concerns over air traffic control procedures and aviation safety.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday night, involved an American Airlines jet departing from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crew members on board. According to reports, the collision happened while the plane was on its final approach to the airport under clear night conditions.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to the incident on his Truth Social platform, calling it a “bad situation that should have been prevented.” He questioned air traffic control’s handling of the situation, specifically why the helicopter was not given explicit instructions rather than being asked if it had visual contact with the plane.
“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing. Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn?” Trump wrote. “Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane?”
While the extent of damage and potential casualties remain unclear, the incident has prompted an investigation into air traffic control protocols and communication between pilots and ground control.
CNN reported that it was not immediately clear whether Trump’s statements were based on official briefings or personal observation. Aviation authorities have yet to release a detailed account of the events leading to the collision.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the collision and whether any procedural lapses contributed to the accident.
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