Donald Trump has said that “diversity” may have played a role in the deadly collision between a passenger plane and a military helicopter in Washington DC that killed 67 people.
When asked to clarify whether he was indeed blaming the crash on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the US President said it “may have”, but did not provide any evidence.
There is no information yet to suggest that diversity programs or so-called “diversity appointments” were in any way responsible for the horrific crash.
President Trump himself said the cause is yet “unknown” and most theories focus on the helicopter crew not seeing the oncoming plane.
A former Biden official has called the President’s comments “disgusting” and claimed that the new Trump administration has fired senior staff who “help keep our skies safe”.
He was asked if he had any plans to go to the scene, as rescue workers search the Potomac River for bodies and collect debris at the start of a lengthy investigation into the crash.
“I have plans to go to the scene – not to the scene. Because what – you tell me. What’s the scene? Water. We’re going to swim?” he joked.
The disaster struck on Wednesday local time as American Eagle flight AA5342 from Wichita, Kansas, was approaching for a landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at about 9pm (1pm AEDT Thursday).
Seconds before landing, the Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet with 64 passengers and crew on board approached a US military Black Hawk (H-60) helicopter.
