Black Boxes Recovered from DC-Area Plane Crash; Trump Blames DEI Policies

Investigators have recovered the crucial black box recorders from the American Airlines jet that crashed into a US Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft, Al Jazeera reports.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed the recovery of both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder from the Bombardier CRJ700 jet.

NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy said that the agency would conduct a thorough investigation into the mid-air collision, which marks the first fatal crash involving a US commercial airliner in over 15 years.

The recovery of the black boxes comes as former President Donald Trump has drawn criticism for suggesting that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may have contributed to the disaster. Trump, when pressed by a reporter, stated he had “common sense” to link the crash with DEI policies despite the ongoing investigation.

Trump’s comments have been widely condemned by Democrats and disability rights groups, including the National Disability Rights Network, who called his remarks “irresponsible, disparaging, and wrong.” Pete Buttigieg, former Transportation Secretary under President Joe Biden, described the comments as “despicable.”

Preliminary details of the flight indicate that air traffic controllers had asked the pilots of American Airlines Flight 5342 if they could land on Runway 33, and flight tracking data shows they adjusted their flight path to accommodate the request. Just prior to the collision, an air traffic controller asked the army helicopter crew if they could see the approaching commercial plane.

This incident is the first deadly accident involving a US commercial airline since 2009 when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed near Buffalo, New York, claiming 50 lives. Authorities have so far recovered approximately 40 bodies from the Potomac River following Wednesday’s crash.

While a full list of victims has not been officially released, authorities have confirmed that they include two former world champion figure skaters, two Chinese nationals, a group of friends on a duck-hunting trip, and the crews of both aircraft.

The crash occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which is a popular airport due to its proximity to Washington, D.C. The airport is located less than 5 miles from the capital, compared to Dulles International Airport, which is some 23 miles away.