The collision, which took place near Washington, D.C., sent the American Airlines plane into the icy Potomac River, while the helicopter, carrying three U.S. Army soldiers, also went down.
As emergency crews continue to search for survivors in freezing conditions, former U.S. President Donald Trump has shared his thoughts on the incident, suggesting it could have been avoided.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump questioned the events leading up to the crash.
He pointed out that the military helicopter appeared to be heading directly toward the airplane for a long period before the collision.
"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," Trump wrote. "Why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn?"
Trump also raised concerns about the actions of the control tower, which he believes should have done more to prevent the disaster.
He asked, "Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane?"
He ended his post by stating, "This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. Not good!!!"
The crash has led to a massive emergency response, with search teams battling freezing temperatures, strong winds, and poor visibility as they work to recover any survivors.
As of now, 18 bodies have been found, and authorities have yet to confirm the total number of casualties.
American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, was preparing to land at Reagan National Airport when it collided with the military helicopter.
Eyewitnesses described flames and debris falling from the wreckage as the aircraft disappeared into the water.
In response to the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights at Reagan National Airport, rerouting them to Dulles International Airport.
Trump’s comments reflect his frustration over the incident and his call for further investigation.
He expressed his condolences to the victims, saying, "What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all."
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