US President Donald Trump speculated – at length – about the cause of a mid-air collision that claimed the lives of 67 people near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington in his first address following last night’s tragedy.
The collisions is being described as the worst US aviation disaster since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
It claimed the lives of all 64 people on board an American Airlines flight preparing for landing, and the three crewmembers of a US military helicopter doing exercises in the area.
The US President offered his condolences to the families of the victims.
Trump indicated that an investigation into the cause of the fatal collision is underway, but delivered an attack on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies of the former administration – expressing a variety of personal opinions about what might have happened.
Among the airline passengers on board the aircraft were a number of young figure skaters and their families. At least two Russian figure skaters are confirmed to have been on board the flight, and Trump indicated that the plane carried other foreign nationals as well.