Staff Reports
In a rather shocking turn of events, former President Donald Trump has taken to social media to unveil some revelations from the black boxes recovered after the tragic mid-air collision over the Potomac River. The collision, involving a passenger jet and an Army helicopter, has left many questioning how something so catastrophic could happen in the supposedly well-regulated airspace above our nation’s capital.
Trump pointed out that the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was flying an astonishing height well above the FAA’s 200-foot limit, which raises eyebrows about the competency of those in charge. He made it known in no uncertain terms that this information should be rather straightforward—apparently yet another reminder that common sense is a rare commodity in D.C. Not only does flying high above prescribed limits invite catastrophe, but it’s also a fine example of federal regulation being thrown out the window, even in an area as strategic as Washington, D.C.
That’s exactly what Trump said, way above the 200 foot limit. pic.twitter.com/Emb3pr7UcK
— Walter Curt (@WCdispatch_) January 31, 2025
The National Transportation Safety Board is looking into various pieces of this tragic puzzle, with Todd Inman cautioning against wild speculation based on half-baked theories popping up on social media. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the helicopter’s height certainly raises some eyebrows, and as investigations continue, the incident underscores how fragile safety has become when so many seemingly minor errors come together to create a perfect storm.
The FAA is also stepping into the fray, revealing some eyebrow-raising findings about staffing levels at the Reagan International Airport control tower. It turns out an employee was multitasking to the extreme, performing duties meant for not one but two individuals. This oversight raises major concerns about how air traffic control is managed in one of the busiest regions in the country. Despite the insistence that the overall staffing numbers are “normal,” the fact that just 19 employees are active when they should have 30 raises serious alarms. When the stakes are this high, having your control towers understaffed in a bustling airspace should be the kind of oversight that gets people fired, not ignored.
In a separate but crucial line of inquiry, the investigation is also probing how communications differ between helicopter pilots and commercial airmen. One can only imagine how that lack of clarity in communication could contribute to an already tense situation when the sky over D.C. is home to both passenger planes and Army choppers buzzing about.
With a staggering death toll of 67 and no survivors expected, Trump aptly referred to this heartbreaking incident as a “dark and excruciating night” for the nation. It’s a sobering reminder of the responsibilities that come with flying in airspace populated by both civilian airliners and military aircraft. The shockwaves are felt far beyond D.C., reminding everyone that when the regulations aren’t followed, it’s more than just protocols on paper; it’s lives at stake.
