Staff Reports
A tragic collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial airliner near D.C.’s Reagan National Airport has exposed not just poor air traffic control operations but also the predictable attempts by the left-leaning media to pin the blame on former President Donald Trump. Instead of seeking genuine answers, the mainstream press wastes no time in launching its political attacks, immediately insinuating Trump’s culpability and attempting to exploit this heart-wrenching incident for political gain. The facts emerging from the aviation safety report tell a much different story—one of staffing shortages and mismanagement that can be traced back to the previous Democratic administrations.
The preliminary report from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reveals that staffing levels at the Reagan control tower were alarmingly inadequate. The tower was nearly 30% below the target staffing level, with just 19 fully certified controllers on hand when there should have been 30. This scarcity meant that one air traffic controller was tasked with managing both helicopter traffic and landings and departures at the same time, a role that is typically handled by two distinct controllers. It’s the kind of oversight that raises eyebrows and should send chills down the spine of any American concerned about aviation safety. Yet, instead of addressing this systemic failure, the legacy media chose to focus on misplacing blame rather than investigating the true cause.
🚨 𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡, 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬
The source describes the set-up, which had one person handling both local and helicopter traffic.
The Reagan National control tower is… pic.twitter.com/T5WOyxFF2b
— Kelly McCarty (formerly NONBidenary) (@KellyLMcCarty) January 30, 2025
This incident isn’t merely an isolated tragedy; it’s a manifestation of years of poor management and staffing decisions that have plagued the FAA under the Obama and Biden administrations. During the Obama years, a shift toward hiring practices that emphasized diversity over qualifications led to a watering down of expertise within the FAA. The Biden administration has further entrenched these practices, opting for “diversity, equity, and inclusion” over merit-based hiring. This misguided focus prioritized political correctness at the expense of safety and operational capability. The consequences of these past decisions are now glaringly evident in the wake of this horrifying incident.
Recognizing the urgent need for change, President Trump has reiterated the necessity of returning to merit-based recruitment to ensure that the FAA meets the highest standards of safety and competence. His administration began that shift, aiming to restore a culture that rewards ability and performance instead of questionable hiring practices motivated by ideology. The devastating crash serves as a somber reminder of the stakes involved when bureaucracy prioritizes identity over expertise. Now, as the FAA is being called to reevaluate its practices, it’s time for accountability and a shift back to prioritizing the skills necessary to keep the flying public safe.
As investigations continue, it’s essential for American families to demand thorough accountability for the FAA’s management failures. Rest assured, the right will not let this tragedy be exploited for political gain by the media. While the controls on the scene were inadequate, the focus should remain on ensuring that such oversights are not repeated in the future. This horrific event tragically underscores a critical truth: in aviation, competence and experience should always trump superficial hiring practices. The safety of American airspace hangs in the balance, and the public has a right to expect that their government prioritizes true merit and operational readiness.
