Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian pushed back this week on claims from the political Left that President Donald Trump&#8217;s cuts to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will impact air travel safety.
The comments from Bastian come after one of Delta&#8217;s planes was involved in an accident in Toronto this week during landing. The plane&#8217;s rear landing gear snapped upon impact, causing the plane&#8217;s wing to clip the ground and the jetliner to flip over.
Bastian appeared on &#8220;CBS Mornings&#8221; on Wednesday to address the recent plane crash at Toronto-Pearson International Airport, where a Delta flight from Minneapolis overturned while landing at the Canadian airport.
&#8220;Do those cuts worry you and do you think that impacts safety?&#8221; CBS News host Gayle King asked Bastian on &#8220;CBS Mornings.&#8221; &#8220;Do these cuts affect you?&#8221;
&#8220;The cuts do not affect us, Gayle,&#8221; Bastian responded. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been in close communication with the Secretary of Transportation. I understand that the cuts at this time are something that are raising questions, but the reality is there&#8217;s over 50,000 people that work at the FAA. And the cuts, I understand, were 300 people, and they were in non-critical safety functions.&#8221;
&#8220;The Trump administration has committed to investing deeply in terms of improving the overall technologies that are used in the air traffic control systems and modernizing the skies,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;They&#8217;ve committed to hiring additional controllers and investigators, and safety investigators. So no, I&#8217;m not concerned with that at all.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
CBS&#8217;s Gayle King tries to blame Trump for the plane crashes, is debunked by Delta&#8217;s CEO <a href="https://t.co/P9m5SxYKOQ">pic.twitter.com/P9m5SxYKOQ</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1892275303889719529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
Bastian said that the crew responded appropriately to the accident, which pilots continuously train to be prepared for.
“This is what we train for,” Bastian insisted. “We train for this continuously.”
He added that despite the accident last month in Washington, D.C., and some smaller crashes since then, flying remains “the safest form of transportation, period.”

Utah Scenics

Delta’s CEO Pushes Back On Claims That Cuts To FAA Will Impact Safety Of Air Travel

Airplane crash

Delta Airlines

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

At least two people were killed Wednesday morning when two small planes collided midair near an airport in southern Arizona, local authorities said.
According to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, “two people were aboard each plane involved in the collision,” The Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-small-plane-collision-763524e34ee9f1b9315b30121f3ec584">reported</a>. Authorities in Marana, located about 25 miles northwest of Tucson, confirmed at least two fatalities.
The airport has no air traffic control tower but was planning to construct one before pandemic-related setbacks caused delays. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash but has not yet provided details on whether airfield infrastructure issues or other factors played a role.
Authorities have also not confirmed whether weather or mechanical failures contributed to the collision. Additional updates, including the identities of the victims, are pending as law enforcement continues notifying the individuals’ families. Local agencies have urged anyone with firsthand information to contact them directly, emphasizing that witness accounts can help piece together what led to the midair collision.
This week’s incident marks the second fatal crash in Arizona within a short span. Last week, one of two pilots died on a private jet in Scottsdale owned by Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil after the aircraft went off the runway and collided with a business jet.
The tragedy is one of four in just the last month, including a Delta aircraft that overturned upon landing in Toronto and a commuter plane in Alaska that crashed in remote terrain.
In January, a fatal collision involving an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., claimed 67 lives, while the next day saw the crash of a medical transport flight in Philadelphia that killed seven and injured 19 others.

American Airlines Plane And Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National Airport

Midair Plane Collision In Arizona Kills At Least Two

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Tuesday after he blamed President Donald Trump&#8217;s government cuts for the Delta Air Lines crash-landing in Toronto earlier this week.
Schumer <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1891646582082167166?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1891646582082167166%7Ctwgr%5E67fe56231bf46cf6d604ca71a05331f7b2a6d811%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fmedia%2Fkaroline-leavitt-gives-fact-check-sen-schumer-blames-trump-upside-down-delta-plane-crash-toronto" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X on Monday shortly after the crash, writing, &#8220;Trump’s doing massive layoffs at the FAA—including safety specialists—and making our skies less and less safe.&#8221; In a follow-up post, Schumer added, &#8220;To those asking whether it matters that the plane’s destination was in Canada: The flight took off from Minneapolis. The FAA was still responsible for inspecting the aviation equipment, and Trump just let go of FAA safety specialists.&#8221;
Leavitt responded to Schumer&#8217;s criticism of the Trump administration, telling <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/karoline-leavitt-gives-fact-check-sen-schumer-blames-trump-upside-down-delta-plane-crash-toronto?intcmp=tw_fnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News</a>, &#8220;It’s incredibly irresponsible for Chuck Schumer to say such a thing when the investigation is still underway.&#8221; She then pointed out that the &#8220;crash unfortunately took place in Canadian airspace with Canadian air traffic controllers overseeing it.&#8221; According to Leavitt, no air traffic controllers have been fired during Trump&#8217;s purge of the FAA. She added that the Trump administration &#8220;has put great emphasis on hiring the best and the brightest air-traffic controllers who want to be part of the FAA.&#8221;
The response from the White House Press Secretary prompted another social media <a href="https://x.com/SenSchumer/status/1892214482887152100" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a> from Schumer, who wrote, &#8220;Here are the facts: This flight took off from Minneapolis. The FAA was still responsible for inspecting the aviation equipment, and Trump just fired FAA safety specialists.&#8221; He added, &#8220;The Trump administration turns away from the facts, and it’s hurting Americans. Democrats are fighting to protect the flying public.&#8221;
The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union, which represents FAA and Department of Defense employees, said earlier this week that the Trump administration fired hundreds of FAA probationary workers, including systems specialists, safety inspectors, and maintenance mechanics. The reported firings came after Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-initiates-review-of-all-faa-workers-in-critical-safety-positions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ordered</a> a review of all FAA “critical safety positions” to &#8220;ensure top-notch air safety and efficiency.&#8221;
Authorities have not determined the cause of the crash-landing in Toronto as Canadian and U.S. officials team up on the investigation. Video footage showed the regional jet hit the runway at an odd angle before its right main landing gear snapped off. The plane&#8217;s right wing smashed into the ground and the aircraft turned upside down and burst into flames. All 80 people on board, including 76 passengers and four crew members, survived, with 21 requiring medical attention.
Authorities will look into factors that could have led to the crash, including the weather and the pilots&#8217; experience and training. A retired Delta captain told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bad-weather-or-human-error-retired-airline-captain-breaks-down-delta-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> on Tuesday that he does &#8220;not believe that weather was a factor.&#8221;
&#8220;Most likely from what I gathered yesterday at the time of the incident, the wind was approximately 40 degrees from center, so the crosswind component was around 20 knots and the headwind was around 23,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;Any pilot should be able to handle that. It’s no big deal.&#8221;
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian <a href="https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/delta-ceo-says-flight-crew-125242104.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> &#8220;CBS Mornings&#8221; on Wednesday that the crew on Delta&#8217;s Endeavor Air CRJ-900 was experienced, adding, &#8220;All these pilots train for these conditions.&#8221; Bastian also praised the crew for quickly evacuating everyone on the plane.

Chuck Schumer/Karoline Leavitt

Leavitt, Schumer Trade Barbs After Dem Leader Blames Trump For Delta Crash-Landing

Air and Space

Chuck Schumer

Donald Trump

Karoline Leavitt

Politics

Toronto

Authorities will look into numerous potential causes after a Delta Air Lines plane rolled upside down and burst into flames when it landed in Toronto on Monday.
As Canadian and American investigators begin to look into the cause of the crash, video footage of the crash-landing has given some aviation experts a good idea of what likely led to the frightening incident. The CRJ900, operated by Endeavor Air — a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines — departed from Minneapolis with 76 passengers and four crew members on board. A video posted on social media showed the plane approaching Toronto Pearson International Airport before hitting the runway at an odd angle and smashing its right wing into the ground.
The plane then turned upside down as it skidded across the runway before coming to a stop. Other videos showed Delta crew members helping passengers evacuate onto the runway as first responders extinguished the flames. Everyone on the plane survived, with 21 people requiring medical attention. Two people remain hospitalized as of Tuesday afternoon.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A clear visual of the the Delta CRJ900, operated by Endeavor Air as Flight DL4819 from Minneapolis St. Paul, crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, flipping onto its side on the snow-covered Runway 24R, but miraculously, all the occupants survived.
📹… <a href="https://t.co/5iFPTe2M2O">pic.twitter.com/5iFPTe2M2O</a>
&mdash; FL360aero (@fl360aero) <a href="https://twitter.com/fl360aero/status/1891805600838766911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h3>Did snow or wind play a role?</h3>
During a Tuesday <a href="https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1mnxegMVwLnGX" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press conference</a>, Canadian authorities discussed the major snowfall the area has experienced in recent days. Since last Thursday, Toronto Pearson International Airport has been hit by two snowstorms that dumped around 20 inches of snow on the area, and the video of the landing showed snow drifting across the runway.
Crosswinds at the time of the CRJ900&#8217;s landing were between 29 and 38 mph. But Toronto Pearson Fire Chief Todd Aitken said that the runway was dry, and that there were no crosswind conditions when the plane landed around 2:15 p.m., according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/delta-plane-flip-toronto-canada-airport-minneapolis-6d064bbc7a3bb8595183d6765d61a0ee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>. When asked on Tuesday about the condition of the runway and the cross-wind possibly causing the crash, the fire chief said he didn&#8217;t want to speculate and directed any questions about the cause of the crash to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
The board will lead the investigation into the crash, with the National Transportation Safety Board from the United States assisting in the investigation.
A retired Delta captain, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Daily Wire that the crosswind was not strong enough to be a major factor in the crash-landing.
&#8220;Keep in mind &#8217;40 mph&#8217; winds doesn&#8217;t mean the wind was a direct crosswind or a direct headwind,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Most likely from what I gathered yesterday at the time of the incident, the wind was approximately 40 degrees from center, so the crosswind component was around 20 knots and the headwind was around 23.&#8221;
&#8220;I do not believe that weather was a factor,&#8221; the retired aviation expert said, adding, &#8220;Any pilot should be able to handle that. It&#8217;s no big deal.&#8221;
<h3>Are the pilots at fault?</h3>
The investigation will also seek to determine if the crash was the result of human error. The retired Delta captain said that the airplane appeared to be &#8220;coming down at a pretty good clip,&#8221; meaning the pilot possibly did not &#8220;flare,&#8221; the technique pilots use to achieve a proper rate of descent before touching down.
&#8220;Normally, it would be coming down, prior to landing, somewhere in the order of 600-700 feet per minute,&#8221; the captain added. &#8220;However, as you get closer to the runway, you must reduce that rate of descent such that when you touch down, you are not going 700 feet per minute in the down direction. You&#8217;re touching down very gently.&#8221;
The pilot landing the CRJ900 in Toronto on Monday &#8220;hit the right main landing gear with such force that it snapped the gear off.&#8221;
&#8220;I hate to say it,&#8221; the captain said. &#8220;This is pilot error.&#8221;

Delta crash

Bad Weather Or Human Error? Retired Airline Captain Breaks Down Delta Crash

Canada

New video footage surfaced on Tuesday morning showing the moment a Delta Air Lines flight crashed on the tarmac of Toronto Pearson International Airport.
On Monday, the inbound CRJ-900 flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) flipped over after the right rear landing gear on the passenger plane appeared to give out as the aircraft touched down.
With the landing gear snapped off, the plane&#8217;s right wing hit the ground and was torn off, causing the plane to roll and turn upside down.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Clearist footage showing the crash moment of Delta &#8211; Endevoir Air CRJ-900 Flight DL4819 from Minneapolis (MSP) to Toronto (YYZ) with registration N932XJ. 
We will share the reports as soon as available. <a href="https://t.co/4XRAdJt3c0">pic.twitter.com/4XRAdJt3c0</a>
— aircraftmaintenancengineer (@airmainengineer) <a href="https://twitter.com/airmainengineer/status/1891800990317191428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
Twenty-one of the 80 people on board the regional jet — 76 passengers and four crew members — were transported to hospitals after the accident, nineteen of whom have since been released. The flight was operated by Delta subsidiary Endeavor Air.
“Our most pressing priority remains taking care of all customers and Endeavor crew members who were involved,” <a href="https://x.com/DeltaNewsHub/status/1891860188094742559">said</a> Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “We’ll do everything we can to support them and their families in the days ahead, and I know the hearts, thoughts and prayers of the entire Delta community are with them. We are grateful for all the first responders and medical teams who have been caring for them.”
Passenger Pete Koukov <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/17/world/canada/toronto-plane-crash-delta.html">told</a> The New York Times that nothing seemed off during the flight and that all the problems occurred the moment &#8220;the wheels hit the ground.&#8221;
“The next thing I know, we’re sideways,” he said. “I unbuckled pretty fast and kind of lowered myself to the floor, which was the ceiling. People were panicking.”
The plane had to contend with wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour and drifting snow upon landing, although there is no indication that weather factors were the cause of the accident.
The Federal Aviation Administration said that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada will be in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates.

Delta Air Lines plane crashes at Toronto Pearson Airport

WATCH: Shocking New Footage Shows Delta Crash Up Close

Plane Crash

World

Insane video from the runway at Scottsdale Airport in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/arizona" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arizona</a> shows the moment Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil’s private jet collided with another airplane that was parked, killing one of the pilots and injuring others.
The clip shows Neil’s Learjet coming in for a landing on Monday and crashing into the side of a Gulfstream 200 that had been parked on the runway, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/02/11/us-news/video-shows-vince-neils-jet-crashes-into-parked-plane-killing-a-pilot-and-injuring-rockers-girlfriend/">New York Post</a> reported. Authorities have reported that the singer’s plane had some kind of trouble with its landing gear, causing it to speed down the runway and right into the side of the much larger plane, <a href="https://people.com/video-shows-deadly-crash-of-motley-crue-vince-neil-plane-in-scottsdale-8877121">People magazine</a> reported.
One of the pilots was killed in the crash, and three other people were taken to the hospital for treatment, including the rocker’s girlfriend, who was traveling without Neil.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
DEVELOPING: Plane owned by Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil crashes into parked jet at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona.
Officials confirm at least 1 person was killed, 4 injured. It&#8217;s unknown if Neil was on board the plane. <a href="https://t.co/t1etMwP75A">pic.twitter.com/t1etMwP75A</a>
— BNO News (@BNONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1889127659491283432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
In a statement from the lead singer’s representative, Neil said that “there were four people on his jet&#8221; when it crashed.
“For reasons unknown at this time, the plane veered from the runway causing it to collide with another parked plane,” the representative added. “On board Mr. Neil’s plane were two pilots and two passengers.”
“More specific details regarding the collision are not available as this is a rapidly evolving situation and there is an ongoing investigation,” the representative continued. “Mr. Neil’s thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved, and he is grateful for the critical aid of all first responders assisting today.”
The company that owned the Gulfstream, Jet Pros, released a statement that the plane was in fact one of theirs and that there were no injuries sustained on their craft.
“There were no injuries on board the Gulfstream, but external damages were sustained to the aircraft,” Jet Pros Director of Operations Gus Toulatos <a href="https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/scottsdale-airports-runway-closed-fire-department-responding/75-7b019845-1beb-49ed-bf29-357b7002b5fd">told 12 News</a>.
They also said one crew member on board the plane at the time of the crash was taken to the hospital, “treated and released,” People noted.
“We are saddened to hear about the lives lost and injured. … Our condolences go out to the family members of those affected by this terrible accident,” the company added.
A statement from the Federal Aviation Administration said in its statement that the collision occurred on Monday afternoon when the private jet owned by Neil “veered off the runway after landing,” the Post noted.
In recent weeks, there have been a series of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/airplane-crash">crashes involving aircrafts</a>, with the largest one happening near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29, involving an Army helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342, killing the 64 people on board.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/plane-crashes-into-philadelphia-neighborhood-multiple-homes-on-fire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Plane Crashes Into Philadelphia Neighborhood, Multiple Homes On Fire</a>

Vince Neil

WATCH: Insane Moment Motley Crue Lead Singer’s Private Jet Collides With Another

Arizona

Celebrities

Music

U.S.

Authorities said on Friday that there are no survivors after finding a Bering Air Cessna Caravan with 10 people on board that crashed on sea ice after going missing over the Norton Sound in Alaska on Thursday.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, rescuers looking for the missing aircraft spotted the wreckage from a helicopter, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/missing-aircraft-alaska-search-10-people-eb496188285ed54c9a527f658d4ff70a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The Cessna Caravan, which is a single-engine propeller plane, left Unalakleet, Alaska, at 2:37 p.m. local time and was supposed to land in Nome, Alaska, which is a short flight across the Norton Sound. At around 4:00 p.m., Alaska State troopers received word around 4:00 p.m. that the plane was overdue, and authorities began search operations.
The Coast Guard said that at 3:18, the airplane had “some kind of event which caused them to experience a rapid loss in elevation and a rapid loss in speed.&#8221; Visibility was poor at the time of the crash as the area experienced light snow and fog.
All 10 people onboard the flight, which included nine passengers and one pilot, were adults, Lt. Ben Endres of the Alaska State Troopers said, according to the AP. Bering Air is based in Nome and operates passenger and charter airline services. Since the sea ice is unstable, authorities are trying to move fast to recover the bodies and any parts of the plane that will aid officials in their investigation into the crash.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a> (1/2) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USCG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USCG</a> has ended its search for the missing plane after the aircraft was located approx. 34 miles southeast of Nome. 3 individuals were found inside and reported to be deceased. <a href="https://t.co/XndzBYHdCE">pic.twitter.com/XndzBYHdCE</a>
&mdash; USCGAlaska (@USCGAlaska) <a href="https://twitter.com/USCGAlaska/status/1888023010877260283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“They are on the ice as we speak,” said Nome Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jim West. “The conditions out there are dynamic, and so we’ve got to do it safely and the fastest way we can.”
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski addressed the crash during a press conference, saying, “It’s hard to accept the reality of our loss.” Nome Mayor John Handeland added, “Nome is a strong community, and in challenging times we come together and support each other. I expect the outpouring of support to continue in the coming days as we all work to recover from this tragic incident.&#8221;
The crash is the third on U.S. soil in 2025. Last month, an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three service members collided with an American Eagle flight that had 64 people on board. The crash sent both aircraft into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people involved. Days later, a medical jet carrying a pediatric patient crashed in north Philadelphia, killing all six people on board and one person on the ground and injuring more than 20 others.

USCG Alaska

Missing Alaska Plane Found; Authorities Say There Are No Survivors

Airplane

Alaska

Coast Guard

A plane with 10 people aboard went missing while flying from Unalakleet to Nome, Alaska, on Thursday, sparking a search and rescue operation from state and federal authorities.
The Bering Air Caravan airplane with one pilot and nine passengers left Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m. local time, and Alaska State troopers received word around 4:00 p.m. that the plane was overdue in Nome, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plane-missing-alaska-10-on-board-nome/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&amp;linkId=740695350" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The plane appeared to be traveling over the Norton Sound when it potentially encountered near-whiteout fog. FlightRadar <a href="https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n321ba#39086384" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> showed a Bering Air Caravan plane last reporting data at 3:16 p.m.
&#8220;U.S. Coast Guard District 17 responded to an aircraft emergency notification from Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at 4:30 p.m. today for a Cessna Caravan that reported to have 10 people aboard,&#8221; U.S. Coast Guard Alaska <a href="https://x.com/USCGAlaska/status/1887733606472388886" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a statement. &#8220;An HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Air Station Kodiak to search their last known position. The aircraft was 12 miles offshore transiting from Unalakleet to Nome when its position was lost. More information to follow as it becomes available.&#8221;
The Bering Air Cessna Caravan is a single-engine propeller plane. Bering Air is based in Nome and operates passenger and charter airline services.
Due to low visibility, the search plane flew over the water and along the shoreline with equipment that could help locate the missing aircraft. Authorities told people not to form their own search parties due to the weather. The Nome Volunteer Fire Department said, &#8220;We continue to expand search efforts to as many avenues as possible until the plane is located.&#8221;
In an update at 12:30 a.m. local time on Friday, the fire department said the plane was still missing.
&#8220;We do not have any updated information on the location of the missing aircraft. Crews are still searching on the ground, canvassing as much area as possible,&#8221; the fire department <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NVFDAlaska" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> added. &#8220;The National Guard C-130 reported they found nothing found so far. The Airforce also sent a C-130 resumed the search and also have reported no visuals, and have one hour of flight search time remaining. If nothing further is reported, the next update will be at 9am.&#8221;
The incident comes after an Army Black Hawk helicopter with three service members collided with an American Eagle flight that had 64 people on board. The crash sent both aircraft into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people involved. Days later, a medical jet carrying a pediatric patient crashed in north Philadelphia, killing all six people on board and one person on the ground and injuring more than 20 others.

U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter

Authorities Begin Search And Rescue Operation After Plane Goes Missing In Alaska

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sniped at the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over the recent tragic plane crash at Reagan Washington National Airport, and Duffy quickly made it clear that he had no time for her.
The exchange began with Duffy announcing that he had spoken with the DOGE team — most of whom have experience in tech fields — about helping to &#8220;upgrade our aviation system.&#8221;
Clinton snarked at Duffy over the fact that the known members of entrepreneur Elon Musk&#8217;s DOGE team are in their early 20s, have little or no government experience, and some have not finished their formal educations.
&#8220;They have no relevant experience. Most of them aren&#8217;t old enough to rent a car. And you&#8217;re going to let them mess with airline safety that&#8217;s already deteriorated on your watch?&#8221; she posted.
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They have no relevant experience. 
Most of them aren&#39;t old enough to rent a car. 
And you&#39;re going to let them mess with airline safety that&#39;s already deteriorated on your watch? <a href="https://t.co/l0fFTrYMG2">pic.twitter.com/l0fFTrYMG2</a>
&mdash; Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) <a href="https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/1887246526285537644?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Duffy pushed back, arguing that the problems in infrastructure dated back to long before he was confirmed as Transportation Secretary just a week prior: &#8220;Madam Secretary, with all due respect, &#8216;experienced&#8217; Washington bureaucrats are the reason our nation’s infrastructure is crumbling. You need to sit this one out.&#8221;
Clinton tried again, blaming &#8220;MAGA&#8221; and the current administration even though Trump took office less than three weeks ago.
&#8220;US airlines had gone 16 years without fatal crashes. Then MAGA fired the FAA chief, gutted the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, and threatened air traffic controllers with layoffs. Now there have been two fatal crashes. Hope your unvetted 22-year-olds fix things fast,&#8221; she said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
US airlines had gone 16 years without fatal crashes.
Then MAGA fired the FAA chief, gutted the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, and threatened air traffic controllers with layoffs.
Now there have been two fatal crashes.
Hope your unvetted 22-year-olds fix things fast. <a href="https://t.co/kxss1jPjgf">pic.twitter.com/kxss1jPjgf</a>
&mdash; Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) <a href="https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/1887522604245712993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Duffy remained unmoved, suggesting that Clinton was lashing out to deflect from the other actions DOGE has taken to root out waste and fraud within the federal government.
&#8220;I know you’re lashing out because DOGE is uncovering your family’s obscene grifting via USAID, but I won’t let you lie and distort facts,&#8221; Duffy said. &#8220;The FAA administrator announced he resigned over a month before Trump took office, and the air traffic controllers were always exempt from Trump’s civil service buyouts.&#8221;
&#8220;The previous administration shamelessly used USDOT as a slush fund for the Green New Scam, throwing away money and resources on wasteful environmental and social justice projects rather than updating our nation’s antiquated air traffic control systems and other critical infrastructure,&#8221; he continued.
&#8220;I’m returning this department to its mission of safety by using innovative technology in transportation and infrastructure. Your team had its chance and failed,&#8221; he concluded. &#8220;We’re moving on without you because the American people want us to make America’s transportation system great again. And yes, we’re bringing the 22-year-olds with us.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I know you’re lashing out because DOGE is uncovering your family’s obscene grifting via USAID, but I won’t let you lie and distort facts. The FAA administrator announced he resigned over a month before Trump took office, and the air traffic controllers were always exempt from… <a href="https://t.co/WOI5K4242D">https://t.co/WOI5K4242D</a>
&mdash; Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDuffy/status/1887558301908426900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senate Commerce, Science, And Transportation Committee Holds Confirmation Hearing For Sean Duffy

Hillary Clinton Snipes At DOGE, But Sean Duffy Gives Her No Quarter: ‘You Need To Sit This One Out’

Hillary Clinton Snipes At DOGE, But Sean Duffy Gives Her No Quarter: 'You Need To Sit This One Out'

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Elon Musk

Hillary Clinton

Sean Duffy

An 11-year-old patient and her 31-year-old mother were among the six people who were killed when their medical jet crashed in a residential area in northeast Philadelphia on Friday night.
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the company that owned and operated the Learjet 55 aircraft, identified the victims in the crash as Capt. Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales, Copilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, Dr. Raul Meza Arredondo, Paramedic Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, patient Lizeth Murillo Ozuna, and the patient&#8217;s mother, Valentina Guzman Murillo, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-plane-crash-victims-identified-medical-jet-company/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. All of the victims were Mexican citizens.
A person who was in a car when the Learjet 55 plummeted into the ground like a missile was also killed, but authorities have not yet identified that victim.
The 11-year-old patient and her mother were returning to Mexico after receiving treatment for a life-threatening condition at Shriners Children&#8217;s Hospital. The small jet had arrived in Philadelphia on Friday afternoon after departing from Florida earlier in the day. It was then scheduled to make a stop in Springfield, Missouri, before flying to Mexico, according to CBS News.
Officials said that after the medical jet departed from Philadelphia, it made a slight right turn and a slight left turn. It then went on a steep descent before it crashed, resulting in a massive fireball. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the jet crashed less than a minute after taking off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport.
Authorities found the jet&#8217;s black box buried at the &#8220;site of initial impact, at a depth of 8 feet.&#8221; Officials also found the aircraft&#8217;s enhanced ground proximity warning system, which will be sent, along with the black box, to NTSB investigators in Washington, D.C.
Multiple people on the ground were injured after debris flew into buildings and damaged homes in the area. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said on Sunday that 22 people were injured, with three people in critical condition. The city&#8217;s managing director, Adam Thiel, said there remains &#8220;a lot of unknowns about who was where on the streets,&#8221; adding that the casualty figures could get higher, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-plane-crash-medical-transport-8617dab53471190832dd73db149489fa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>.

Plane crash

Jet Company Identifies 6 Victims Aboard Medical Flight That Crashed In Philly

Mexico

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

First lady <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/melania-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Melania Trump</a> issued a statement on Thursday following the tragic <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/airplane-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plane crash</a> near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport involving an Army helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 on Wednesday night.
“My heart goes out to those impacted by last night’s terrible tragedy,” the post on X from the first lady’s official account <a href="https://x.com/FLOTUS/status/1884991986073059607">read</a>. “I pray for those who so sadly lost their lives, their families [and] loved ones, [and] the first responders who have worked tirelessly through the night.”
“May they find strength and solace in this difficult time,” she added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My heart goes out to those impacted by last night’s terrible tragedy. I pray for those who so sadly lost their lives, their families &amp; loved ones, &amp; the first responders who have worked tirelessly through the night. May they find strength and solace in this difficult time.
— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS/status/1884991986073059607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
Authorities said Thursday morning they believe there are no survivors after a military helicopter collided with the passenger plane that was about to land. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River. 
D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly said Thursday morning that rescue efforts were now switching to recovery efforts with no survivors expected. He said first responders had already recovered the bodies of 27 of the 64 people onboard the passenger plane and one body from the Black Hawk helicopter. 
“We wish we were gathering for different purposes today,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a press conference. “We will not rest until we have answers for the families and for the flying public. You should be assured that when you fly you are safe.” 
The crash, reported around 8:48 p.m., prompted a 300-person emergency response from local fire departments, police departments, the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard, and the FBI.
Duffy added that the two aircraft had been located and that the fuselages of the airplanes had been found in about three different locations. He said that the National Transportation Safety Board and the FA were conducting an investigation. 
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said he was “absolutely heartbroken” and that “we are all hurting incredibly.” He said the helicopter appeared to have veered into the flight path of an American Eagle regional jet that had departed from Wichita, Kansas. 
President Donald Trump released a <a href="https://x.com/TrumpDailyPosts/status/1884977374313550103">statement</a> on Wednesday night following the crash. He wrote on social media that he had “been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls.”
“Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders,” he added. “I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-figure-skating-confirms-several-skaters-and-coaches-were-in-american-airlines-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Figure Skating Confirms ‘Several’ Skaters And Coaches Were In American Airlines Crash</a>

U.S. President Trump’s rally in Valdosta, GA

First Lady Melania Trump Issues Statement Following Tragic Plane Crash

Entertainment

Melania Trump

Washington D.C.

President Donald Trump held a press conference Thursday morning after the crash between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight near Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C., Wednesday night. After expressing the nation&#8217;s grief for those lost in the tragedy, the president denounced past Democratic administrations for weakening air traffic control standards.
“I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation,” Trump began. “This was a dark and excruciating night in our capital and a tragedy of terrible proportions. We grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so sadly.”
After expressing sympathies for the victims, Trump stressed the need for stronger Federal Aviation Administration standards and took aim at Democratic administrations which he said had weakened them.
“We must have only the highest standards for those who work in our aviation system,” he said. “I changed the Obama standards from very mediocre at best to extraordinary. You remember that only the highest aptitude, they have to be the highest intellect and psychologically superior people, were allowed to qualify for air traffic controllers. That was not so, prior to getting there. When I arrived in 2016, I made that change very early on because I always felt this was a job that, and other jobs too, but this was a job that had to be superior intelligence, and we didn&#8217;t really have that, and we had it.”
“And then when I left office and Biden took over, he changed them back to lower than ever before,” Trump stated. “I put safety first. Obama, Biden, and the Democrats put policy first, and they put politics at a level that nobody&#8217;s ever seen, because this was the lowest level. Their policy was horrible, and their politics was even worse.”
“I do want to point out that various articles that appeared prior to my entering office, and here&#8217;s <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/faas-diversity-push-includes-focus-hiring-people-severe-intellectual-psychiatric-disabilities">one</a>,” he said quoting  Fox News article from January 2024: “The FAA diversity push includes focus on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities.”
The article stated:
<blockquote>
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is actively recruiting workers who suffer &#8220;severe intellectual&#8221; disabilities, psychiatric problems and other mental and physical conditions under a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/education/diversity">diversity and inclusion</a> hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website. &#8220;Targeted disabilities are those disabilities that the Federal government, as a matter of policy, has identified for special emphasis in recruitment and hiring,&#8221; the FAA’s website states. &#8220;They include hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability and dwarfism.&#8221;
The initiative is part of the FAA’s <a href="https://www.faa.gov/jobs/diversity_inclusion">&#8220;Diversity and Inclusion&#8221;</a> hiring plan, which says &#8220;diversity is integral to achieving FAA&#8217;s mission of ensuring safe and efficient travel across our nation and beyond.&#8221; The FAA’s website shows the agency’s guidelines on diversity hiring were last updated on March 23, 2022.
</blockquote>
“&#8217;The Initiative is part of the FAA&#8217;s diversity and inclusion hiring plan,'&#8221; Trump quoted. “Think of that. ‘The initiative is part of the FAA&#8217;s diversity and inclusion hiring plan, which says diversity is integral to achieving FAS mission of ensuring safe and efficient travel.’ I don&#8217;t think so. I don&#8217;t think so. I think it&#8217;s just the opposite.”
“The FAA website shows that the agency&#8217;s guidance on diversity hiring were last updated on March 23 of [2022]. They wanted to make it even more so,” he stated. “And then I came in, and I assume maybe this is the reason; the FAA, which is overseen by Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a real winner. The guy&#8217;s a real winner. You know how badly everything&#8217;s run since he&#8217;s run the Department of Transportation. He&#8217;s a disaster. He was a disaster as a mayor. He ran his city into the ground, and he&#8217;s a disaster. Now he&#8217;s just got a good line of bulls***. The Department of Transportation, his government agency charged with regulating civil aviation, well, he runs it —45,000 people — and he&#8217;s run it right into the ground with his diversity. So I had to say that it&#8217;s terrible.”
Given his criticism of the former Transportation Secretary, the president said in response to a question from Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan that it was helpful to have his new secretary confirmed the day before.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaryMargOlohan</a>: &quot;Is it helpful to have your Secretary of Transportation confirmed, and does this intensify your interest in getting other nominees confirmed quickly as well?&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We want fast confirmations. And the Democrats are doing everything they can to delay them.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/EOCBzqawxP">pic.twitter.com/EOCBzqawxP</a>
&mdash; Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire/status/1885015283875643850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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During his remarks, Trump hammered past administrations for maintaining that the FAA was &#8220;too white.&#8221;
“Then it&#8217;s a group within the FAA, another story determined that the workforce was too white, that they had concerted efforts to get the administration to change that and to change it immediately,” the president continued. “This was in the Obama administration just prior to my getting there — and we took care of African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, we took care of everybody at levels that nobody has ever seen before. It&#8217;s one of the reasons I won. But they actually came out with a directive: too white. We want the people that are competent.”

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Trump Takes Aim At Fallen Standards In Air Traffic Control In Post-Crash Briefing

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