On January 29, a tragic collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet occurred over the Potomac River, killing 67 people. Prior to the accident, air-traffic controllers alerted the helicopter pilots several times about the jet's presence, yet moments later, a calm exchange abruptly changed to alarm, marking the moments before the fatal crash. Investigators speculate on various causes, including poor collision-alarm systems and congested airspace. In response to the tragedy, political figures, notably President Trump, erroneously attributed the incident to FAA diversity efforts, diverting attention from the underlying failures.
By the next day, President Donald Trump and his allies had settled on a culprit: diversity, equity, and inclusion. As investigators sought basic facts about the accident, Trump, Vice-President J. D. Vance, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth blamed, without evidence, Federal Aviation Administration efforts to diversify the workforce.
Since the crash, I've been haunted by this transmission: the sudden change from professional placidity to alarm, from control to helplessness. There is pathos in the panic.
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