Mid-Air Collision Near Reagan Kills 67

A tragic collision occurred between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 67 people on board both aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, which are being analyzed to determine the cause of the crash. President Trump speculated that federal diversity efforts might have contributed to the crash, drawing criticism for politicizing the disaster. Notably, only one air traffic controller was on duty at the time of the incident, a deviation from standard staffing levels that might have influenced the collision. The Washington, D.C. airspace is notably congested, adding to the complexity of aviation operations in the region. Investigations are ongoing, with a preliminary report expected in 30 days as authorities seek to understand the sequence of events and communication breakdowns leading to the crash.