The mid-air collision between a US military helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane should have been prevented, President Donald Trump said in a tweet early Thursday morning, raising questions about the fatal collision.
"The plane was on a perfect and routine approach to the airport. The helicopter was heading in the direction of the plane for a long period of time. It's a clear night, the lights on the plane were flashing, why didn't the helicopter climb, land, or turn around. Why didn't the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane," Trump wrote on his "Truth Social" platform, reports A2 CNN.
"This is a bad situation that should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!" the president continued.
The causes of the tragedy are still unknown. Amidst the hypotheses, human error or a technical problem, the FBI will help investigate the accident. In a statement from its office in Washington, the FBI said it is assisting in the response to the tragedy.
"The FBI's Washington Office's National Capital Response Team is responding to an aviation incident at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in support of our law enforcement and public safety partners. Please direct questions regarding this incident to the National Transportation Safety Board."
An American Airlines plane collided with a helicopter in mid-air in Washington, D.C., where both crashed into the Potomac River. There were 60 passengers, four crew members, and three U.S. Army soldiers on board the military helicopter.
Around 300 emergency workers are in "rescue operation", with police divers and boats searching the water for survivors in windy and dark conditions.
The collision occurred on approach to runway 33 at Washington Reagan National Airport around 9 p.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration says in a statement to CBS News. (A2 Televizion)
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