NATCA Head Defends Controllers After Trump Blames Fatal Midair on DEI Policies

President on Thursday suggested the collision between a passenger jet and U.S. Army helicopter was caused by diversity initiatives.

Friday, January 31, 2025 at 04:20 PM ET

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A Bombardier CRJ-700 jet, operating American Eagle Flight 5342, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and crash landed in the Potomac River. [Getty Images/Win McNamee]

Key Takeaways:

President Trump linked a fatal collision between an American Eagle flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring policies, ordering a review of FAA hiring and safety protocols.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and other aviation organizations strongly refuted Trump's claims, asserting that air traffic controllers undergo rigorous qualification regardless of background and that safety is not compromised by diversity initiatives.
Aviation professionals and unions urged patience, emphasizing that speculation on the accident's cause is premature and that the industry must await the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) official investigation results.

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The president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) refuted President Donald Trump’s suggestion that diversity policies were to blame for a collision between an American Eagle flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) on Wednesday night.

Trump during a press conference on Thursday said that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring “could have been” responsible for the collision, which is believed to have killed all 67 people aboard the passenger jet and helicopter. But that’s news to NATCA president Nick Daniels.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.