On January 29th, 2025, a tragic plane crash resulted in the deaths of 67 people, including several promising young figure skating athletes and their families. The incident occurred near Washington, D.C., and was the result of a collision between a passenger plane and a helicopter. Investigations are ongoing in order to determine the cause of the tragedy.
The victims of the crash were on their way back from attending a national figure skating development camp in Wichita, Kansas. In the wake of the tragedy, concerns have been raised regarding recent changes to aviation oversight and air traffic control policies. In the weeks leading up to the incident, the Trump administration, with President Trump only a few days into his presidency, disbanded the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, and paused hiring for air traffic control positions. The Aviation Security Advisory Committee, established in 1989, advises the TSA on aviation security policies, holding public meetings annually. Additionally, several air traffic officials were dismissed as part of broader federal fiscal policy plans emphasizing reductions, including staffing reductions implemented by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Early investigations have suggested that human error and technical failures could have contributed to the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating and performing a full review tothe incident, including an examination of air traffic control staffing levels and current safety regulations to see if they are safe for flights in terms of staffing levels and safety regulations at the moment.
Radio communication failures, including overlapping transitions causing important messages to be lost, are confirmed to have added to the chaos that led up to the crash. The Black Hawk helicopter’s tracking technology was intentionally turned off in accordance with Army protocol, which limited visibility for air traffic controllers. Experts argue that the controller on duty failed to issue instructions that may have prevented the crash. These missteps occurred amid broader issues within the aviation system, especially chronic understaffing at control towers, highlighted by the fact that only one controller was managing both helicopter and commercial air traffic at the time of the incident. These findings have emphasized concerns regarding the ongoing staffing crisis and severe shortage of employees, along with criticism of the lack of oversight in an industry as significant and dangerous as aviation.
President Trump, when asked if he would visit the site of the crash in a conference soon after the horrific occurrence, responded, “What’s the site, the water? You want me to go swimming?” His remarks have been widely discussed in media coverage of the incident and have sparked controversy surrounding his treatment and handling of both the situation itself and the actions leading up to it. He also referred to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program in his statements, implying that aircraft staff hired through this program were potentially responsible for the crash.
President Trump’s assertions around the crash being related to DEI programs drew immediate and widespread criticism. When questioned during a press conference about the basis for linking DEI policies to the crash amid an ongoing investigation, Trump responded, “Because I have common sense“. He further claimed, without evidence, that the FAA was “actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative.” These remarks were met with backlash from reporters at various news sites. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg labeled the comments as “despicable,” emphasizing that safety should not be politicized. Additionally, the NAACP President condemned Trump’s statements as a “sinister strategy” to distract from broader administrative issues. Critics argue that such unfounded claims not only politicize a tragedy but also undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and merit-based hiring in federal agencies.
Lawmakers have responded to this incident with differing opinions on the administration’s recent aviation policy changes. Some officials have called for reinstating advisory committees and reviewing regulatory oversight, while others still support the ongoing deregulation efforts. Aviation experiments continue to assess whether the policy changes implemented in January 2025 have substantially affected overall flight safety.
Memorials for the victims of this horrific incident have been held all across the country, with members of the skating community and friends and family alike organizing tributes. Social media campaigns and tributes honoring the 67 people who lost their lives have gained attention and support.
Since the January 29th crash, multiple other plane crashes have occurred in the United States, further raising concerns about aviation safety under the current administration. In 2025 so far, there have been over one hundred aviation incidents in the United States that have gained a storm of attention. There has also seemingly been a fear of flying reported by customers, and a drop in ticket sales was reported.
Recent data from the Federal Aviation Administration has shown that “only about 80% of staffing targets were filled by fully certified controllers as of September 2023… Some traffic control towers at major airports around the country – including Philadelphia, Orlando, Austin, Albuquerque and Milwaukee – had less than 60% of their staffing targets filled with certified controllers. Reagan Airport [the site of the Potomac plane crash] had about 63%,” according to reporters at CNN.
Officials at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have acknowledged the increase in aviation incidents and have begun reviewing the procedural changes. The surge in aviation disasters has left a profound impact on the nation, particularly within the figure skating community, which has lost several of its most promising young athletes, highly respected coaches, and professionals. Tributes continue to pour in, with memorial services being held at rinks across the country. Many have called for a better response from President Trump and a national honoring of the victims, while others have taken to social media to reminisce, mourn, and call for action.
In Washington, D.C., lawmakers are feeling pressure to respond to the situation. Some have introduced legislation aimed at reversing the administration’s aviation policy changes, proposing funding increases and budget additions for air traffic control staffing and reinstating oversight committees. This debate has extended outside of Congress, with former officials of the Federal Aviation Administration warning that the current state of aviation safety is unsustainable. The current average salary for an air traffic controller is $59,217 per year, despite the requirements being highly strict and various. The salary to qualification ratio is uniquely low given the amount of understaffing currently.
Outside of policy circles, the families of victims are channeling their grief into advocacy. Several have joined forces with transportation safety organizations to push for independent investigations into the crashes, and some are even considering direct legal action against the federal government, arguing that the Potomac crash was avoidable.
The surge in aviation disasters has of course left a huge impact on the nation and public perception of safety, and as investigations begin to unfold, the public remains on edge, with many wondering how many lives may be or will be lost before substantial changes and preventative measures are made that would ensure the safety of air travel in the United States. With each passing week and as multiple new incidents occur, the calls for change, respect for victims and their families, and accountability grow louder, putting pressure on the current administration to address the structural issues that are seemingly plaguing the nation’s aviation system to get ahead of another tragedy.
In 2025 so far, there have been over one hundred aviation incidents in the United States that have gained a storm of attention. There has also seemingly been a fear of flying reported by customers, and a drop in ticket sales was reported.