On Fox News, Jessica Tarlov, co-host, critiqued President Donald Trump’s attempts to connect diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to a fatal aircraft collision that occurred in Washington, D.C. She underscored the inconsistencies in his allegations and pointed out the diversity programs of his own administration.
On the January 31 episode of “The Five,” Tarlov agreed that Trump’s initial scripted comments were fitting, but she took issue with his subsequent impromptu remarks. “He essentially turned a solemn occasion into a campaign rally,” she stated.
She also referenced an assessment by CNN aviation reporter Pete Muntean, citing his words, “What he said was not only unprofessional, unpresidential, inconsiderate of the status of the investigation, but it’s frankly unhinged.”
On January 31, 2025, an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, resulting in 67 deaths. This tragic event marked the deadliest U.S. air crash in over 20 years.
The Embraer E175 aircraft, which was carrying passengers like young figure skaters, their coaches, relatives, a civil rights attorney, and two Chinese nationals, collided with the military helicopter over the Potomac River around 7:15 p.m. EST.
Recovery efforts were challenged by harsh weather conditions. The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, both critical to identifying the cause of the collision, have been retrieved by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The day before the crash, another incident raised questions about safety measures in the complex airspace, when a jet heading towards the Reagan National Airport had to abort its landing due to a helicopter in its flight path. This has sparked a call for greater altitude separation between low-flying aircraft and helicopters.
Tarlov noted that the DEI policies Trump criticized were put in place in 2013, and pointed out, “He had every opportunity through his first administration to revoke them if he thought they were terrible, but he didn’t.” She also emphasized that Trump himself started a diversity program for air traffic controllers in 2019, contradicting his current position.
Clarification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that DEI policies do not apply to air traffic controller hiring, and no preferential treatment is given based on race, sex, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. The NTSB refrained from specifying whether DEI initiatives had any role in the crash, stating they would investigate all aspects thoroughly.
Pete Buttigieg, former Transportation Secretary, labeled Trump’s comments as “despicable,” underlining that safety was the number one priority during the Biden administration, which recorded zero commercial airline crash fatalities.
Civil rights leaders and disability advocates have vehemently disagreed with Trump’s remarks. The Congressional Black Caucus labeled the comments as “disgusting and disgraceful,” stating that DEI initiatives embody American values and are beneficial to all Americans.
Tarlov also highlighted leadership gaps in key federal agencies, pointing out the absence of a Senate-confirmed FAA leader following Michael Whitaker’s resignation. She noted that Elon Musk, a Trump associate, had been pressuring Whitaker to step down for several months, threatening legal action over anticipated SpaceX safety requirement fines.
The investigation into the cause of the collision is still in progress, with federal investigators exploring all potential contributing factors. Aviation safety experts stress the importance of waiting for the investigation’s conclusions before making determinations about the cause.
