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>> president trump address reporters about the u.s. military blackhawk helicopter crashed with a commercial jet plane the president was joined by defense secretary pete hegseth and transportation secretary sean.bay after seeing investigators to look into potential mistakes made by pilots of the helicopter, the president comments he thought diversity equity and inclusion efforts at the federal aviation administration had run the department quote right into the ground. >> mr. president welcome. >> thank you very much, thank you. i would like to request a moment of silence for the victims and their families please. [silence] thank you very much.

i speak to you this morning and an hour of anguish for our nation. just before 9:00 p.m. last night at american airlines regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew, collide with an army blackhawk helicopter carrying three military service members over the potomac river in washington d.c. while on final approach to reagan national airport both air crash crash incident were immediately submerged into the icy waters of the potomac. it's a real tragedy. was underweight throughout the nights leveraging every asset at our disposal. i have to say the local, state,

federal, military including united states coast guard in particular have done a phenomenal job. so quick, so fast it was immobilized immediately. they work is now shifted to a recovery mission. sadly there are no survivors. it's a dark and excruciating night our nations capitol and our nations history a tragedy of turbo proportions. as "one nation" we are grieved for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly. and we are a country, we are in mourning. this is really shaken a lot of people including people sadly family there is back in wichita kansas, in washington d.c. and throughout the other united states and in russia we have a

russia contingent's very talented people unfortunately are on that plane we are very, very sorry about that. we can only begin to imagine the agony you are all feeling. i'm half the first lady caught myself there in 40 million americans, our hearts are shattered alongside yours our prayers are with you now and in the days to come we will be working very, very diligently in the days to come we are here for you to wipe away the tears and to offer you our devotion. and moments like this paid to nothing compared to an nations. we are one family. today we are all heartbroken. we are all searching for answers the i see, i see potomac was a

cold, cold nights. cold water. we are overcome with the grief for many who so tragically parish will no longer be with us. we take se i the knowledge their journey and did not in the cold waters of the potomac but in the warm embrace of a loving god. we do not know what led to this crash but we have some very strong opinions. we will say those opinions out over the years i've watched as things like this happen were always investigating then the investigation three years later they announce it we think we have some pretty good ideas. we find how this disaster occurred it will ensure nothing like this ever happens again. the faa and ntsb and military will be carrying out systematic and comprehensive investigation are new secretary of transportation, sean duffy, his

second day on the job when that happened. it is a rough one. we will be working tirelessly but he is a great gentleman the whole group, these are great people. who work tirelessly to figure out what happened. we won't state certain opinions immediately appointing and acting commissioner to the faa christopher, a 22 year veteran highly respected. christopher, thank you very much. appreciate it. with only the highest standards for those working in her aviation system. they change the obama stands a very mediocre at best to extraordinary. you remember that. only the highest aptitude have to be the highest intellect and psychologically superior people were allowed to qualify for air traffic controllers.

that was not getting there when i arrived in 2016. made that change very early on i always felt this was a job in other jobs too but this was a job that had to be superior in intelligence. we did not really have that. and then, when i left office and biden took over he change them back to lower than ever before. i put safety first, obama, biden and the democrats put policy first. and they put politics at a level that nobody has ever seen. this was the lowest level the policy was horrible. there politics were even worse. i send executive order restoring the higher standards for air traffic controller. it is very interesting.

about a week ago, almost upon entering office i signed something last week and restoring the highest level of air traffic controllers and others by the way. her aviation safety let's have our smartest people. it doesn't matter what they look like, how they speak, it matters intellect, talent they were talented. they have to beat talented, naturally talented geniuses. you cannot have regular people doing their job or they won't be able to do it. we will restore faith in american air travel. i'll have more to say about that. i do want to point out various articles that appeared prior to my entering office. and here is one. the faa diversity push includes focus on hiring people with

severe intellectual psychiatric disabilities. that is amazing. the faa says people severe disabilities are most underrepresented segment of the workforce but they want them in they can be air traffic controllers. i do not think so. this was generate 14th. without the week before entered office that put a big push to put diversity into the faa's program. another article the federal aviation administration. this was before i got to office. recently, second term. the faa is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiatives spelled out in the agency's website.

can you imagine? these are people they're actually their lives are shortened because of the stress that they have. brilliant people have to be in those positions. their lives are shortened, very substantially shortened because of these trusts. he have many, many planes coming into one target and you need a very special talent and genius to be able to do it. targeted disabilities of those disabilities the federal government as a matter of policy has identified special emphasis in hiring the faa's website states they include hearing, vision, missing extremities, partial, paralysis, complete paralysis, epilepsy, severe intellectual disability, psychiatric disability and dwarfism all qualified for the position of a controller of

airplanes pulling into our country but pulling into little spots, little dot on the map. a little runway. the initiative with the faa diversity and inclusion hiring plan for think of that the initiative is part of the faa diversity and inclusion hiring plan which says diversity is integral to achieving faa's mission of ensuring safe and efficient travel. i don't think so but i don't think so. think it is just the opposite for the faa website shows the agency guidance under diversity hiring will march 23. they want to make it even more so. and then i came in. i assume maybe this is the reason for the faa which is overseen by secretary pete buttigieg pretty is a real winner just how badly everything is run since he run the department of transportation? he is a disaster. he was a disaster as a bear.

he ran his city into the ground that he is a disaster now. he's got a good line of [bleep]. his a government agency charged with regulating civil aviation. while heng runs it, 45000 people and is run it right into the ground with his diversity. so i had to say it is terrible. a group within the faa determine the workforce was too white. they had concerted efforts to get the administration to change that. and to change that immediately. this is in the obama administration just prior to my getting there. we took care of african americans, hispanic americans and we took care of everybody at levels nobody seen before. that's one of the reasons i won. they came out the directive to white.

we what the people who are competent. now we mourn, and we pray it was like to ask all americans to join me in a moment of silence as we ask god to watch over those who have lost their lives. and bring comfort to their loved ones. i want to say god bless everyone.. this is been at terrible short period of time. we will get to the bottom of it. we all saw the same thing producing it many times i had the honor of hearing tapes. tapes are scary, very scary tapes. you had an airliner coming in american airlines. who's doing everything right peers t on track is the same trk as everyone else who came in and prod the same truck they've ever 25 years or more. he's coming in the path. and for some reason, they had a

helicopter at the sameat height, opposite a hit but pretty much the same height going at an angle this unbelievably bad for. in the air traffic controller said do you see him? there is a very little time left when that was stated. also said follow him in. almost immediately after that, seconds after t that the crash took place. you follow him in like everything is fine. follow him in. up pilot problem from the standpoint there was visual it was a very clear night. it was c cold but clear, as cler as you could be. the american airlines plane had lights blazing pray that all of their landing lights on.

i could see it from the kennedy center tape we had a tape on the kennedy center i'm sure we will see other tapes it is such an area there's a lot of cameras looking up into the air, into space will probably see many other shots of it before too by. time goes we had a situation where you had the helicopter had the ability to stoppard i have helicopters you can stop a helicopter very quickly had the ability to go up or down. it had the ability tor turn. that turned it made it was not the correct turn obviously. it did some of the opposite of what we are told we do not know if that would have been the difference because the timing tight. there's so little there was so little time to think but we did have as you had vision.

the helicopter had vision of the plane. vision of it all the way perfect vision although it can eat center where the tape was taken. for some reason there were not adjustments made. you could've slowed down helicopter substantially could have stopped the helicopter could've goneti up, calm down comic-con straight up, straight down you could have turned, included inn a million different maneuvers. for some reason it just kept going. and then made a slightth turn at the very end and byth that times too late. they should not have been the same height if it would not of been at the same height you could've gone under it or over it and nobody realize they didn't say is itt the same heigt it still would not have been great but you would've missed it by quite a bit of what could've been 1000 feet higher could've been 200 feet lower moe's exec

at the same height someone should mount point that out. all of this is going to be studied i like to say the words common sense some really bad things happened. somet things happen it should nt have happened at a helicopter going in the identical direction. helicopter that was at the exact same height as someone going in essentially the opposite direction. you had a plane following a track that every other plane followed. i don't imagine her today they might been following the preceding plane which was pretty close but not that close. he would not mail to see that because of the direction helicopters coming in at. aa confluence of bad decisions made. and you have people who lost

their lives violently lost their lives. we are going to take a few questions i'd like to ask our new secretary of transportation to say a few words, sean duffy great gentleman just started. it's not your fault and i know you griffey very strongly on intellect and psychological well-being of the air traffic controller. such an important position. i cannot emphasize stronger i changed it i change it we had the highest standard that you could have. and then they changed it back. that was biden to a standard i just read it to you. that was one of your papers. one of the people that actually looked at a change of back a few days ago. and unfortunately, we will see.

we don't know that it was a comptroller's fault but we do know there is a lot of vision people should have been able to see, at what point do you stop and you say that plane is getting a little close? this is a tragedy it should not of happened. >> think it mr. president. i would note the president's leadership has been remarkable during this crisis. we've had a goal of government response local, state, federal and when you see that kind of cooperation begins with the leadership in this body so thank you forso that mr. president. you make our jobs a lot easier. you made an important point. when we do with the safety we can only accept the best and the brightest in positions of safety that impacts the lives of our lovedfa ones, our family members but you make a very important point that the model of your

presidency the best in the brightest by the most intelligent coming into the spaces. i want to take a moment and extend my condolences to the families of the loved ones. we commit to them we will get to the bottom of this investigation. not in three years, for years but as quickly as possible with the ntsb is here today as well as the faa. what happened yesterday should not have happened. it should not haveno happened. when americans take off and airplanes they should expect to land at their destination. that did not happen yesterday. that is unacceptable. and so we will not accept excuses. will not accept the passing the buck. we are going to take responsibility at the department of transportation and the faa to make sure we have the reforms dictated by president trump in place to make sure these mistakes do not happen again. i would think if your leadership

mr. president. i appreciate the confidence you place to meet. thank you. >> pete would like to say something. >> think you mr. president. again, i want echo with the transportation secretary said about your leadership from the moment we found out that we were in contact with the white house try to determine exactly what happened. i would echo as well, nol g to f this.fi first and foremost of the defense department went up past our condolences to the 64 souls and their families that were affected by this. it never should have happened. certainly the three service members, the three soldiers the young captain, step and dwt routine annual retraining of night flights on the standard corridor for continuity government mission. the military does dangerous things, does routine things on a

regular basis tragically last night i mistake was made i think the president isma right. there was some sort of an elevation issue with immediate begin investing at the deity and army level. army ideas on the ground investigating top-tier aviation assets inside the dot are investigating two to the bottom of it so it does not happen again because it's obsolete unacceptable. i went to echo transportation secretary and you mr. president said because it pertains the dod as well. we will have the best and brightest in every position possible but as you said in your inaugural it is colorblind and merit-based. the best leaders possible it's flying a black hawk, flying airplanes, leading platoons, or in government. the era of dti is gone at the defense department. we did the best and brightest whether it's in our air air traffic control or are generals or throughout government.

thank you for your leadership and courage on that sir. will standby on it. a >> thank you. >> think you mr. president of your leadership and went to reemphasize something the president said you're the secretary of transportation there was a whole of government response we were on the phone, all communicating yesterday trying at the bottom of this immediately. also try to communicate about what happened. we are on the standards and who your hiring on one hand jack in the best people in government on the other hand stresses on the people hoarded there. as already brought to washington d.c. went to hire the best people. her competency the job.

make hundreds of people suing the government because they like to be air traffic controllers but they were turned away because of the color of their skin. thatol policy and under donald trump's leadership because safety is a first priority ever aviation industry. thank you, mr. president. >> argue saying this crash was somehow cause and the result of diversity hiring? what evidence have youd seen to support these claims? >> it could have been paid we have a high h standard much higr standardrd than anybody else. there are things you have to go by brain power you have to go by psychological quality. psychological quality is a very importantal element these at various very powerful test to put to use and they were terminated by biden. biden went by a standard that the exact opposite. so we do not know. we do democrats to plaintiff the same level of a helicopter in a

plane that should not of happened. we will see were going to look into that we will see. certainly air traffic controller we went the brightest, smartest, sharpest prudent somebody that is psychologically superior and that's what we're going to have. several russian nationals on the flight. as russia's government to facilitate the transfer of their remains travel. [inaudible] progress want to been in contact with a rush of the answer is yes we will facilitate. >> please go ahead very. >> thank you, mr. president. the situation. [inaudible] maybe aiding the conflict between he wants to bring peace and stability.

the situation is really bad right now but i want to hear from this present if you have any plans in the future. [inaudible] >> or question about your one it's a very serious problem but i agree but is not appropriate righton now to talk about it. but it is a very serious problem. >> you know the name of the people killed? you are blaming democrats and di policy instead of air traffic control similar the number of u.s. soldiers supplying the blackhawk helicopter tooth you're getting ahead of the investigation' right now? >> the names of the people were on the plane. we think that's going to make a difference? we are a group of people if you and a list of the names we can give you that we will be giving the very soon in coordination with american airlines we are in coordination very strongly obviously with the military. i think that's not a very smart question i'm surprise coming from you.

please. >> thank you for being here. based on your analysis do you have a sense of who is at fault if it's the plane, the helicopter, air traffic control? can you assure people it is safe to fly in and out of d.c.? >> the analysis was based on vision. a lot of people saw what was happening. some people knew what wasof happening. there were some warnings but the warnings were given very, very late. it was almost as they were given a few seconds later there was a crash. it should been brought up earlier. the people in the helicopter should have seen where they were going. in 2020 vision not seeing what's happening up there. again,n, the should not about te same height. thehe should they're going revee direction or side weight

direction. robison went to different heights. i see it of the time when i'm flying planes are going in the opposite or always lower. somehow there is a screwup. it will be close but there's never going to be a tragedy if you are different elevation for whatever reason they're the same elevation. and also, from the american airlines he is a long the track every plane is along. what was a helicopter doing and that track? very sad. visually it someone should have been able to see and taken that helicopter out of plate they thisshould have been a different heights. >> thank you sir. you mention the russian on board that plane. what other nationality? >> there's a couple others will be announcing in about an hour. we have some very specific information. we areou calling the countries, we've spoken to most of them there were some of the countries

represented. >> not about this. >> aviation safety. and what change? >> we issued three days ago. where in the process of making those changes. this is something that should've been done along time ago. actually my original order should never have been changed and maybe would not of had this problem. >> yes please go ahead. >> thank you. every day lives very often. [inaudible] as you just mentioned. [inaudible] what plan you have? >> answers yes. if we find people are not mentallynd competent, you see te

language. the language is put out by them. i'm not going to bore you by reading it again, these are not people that should be doing this particular job. to be very good for certain jobs but not people should be doing this particular job. >> mr. president you have blame diversity elements but then told usnt that we were not sure the controllers made any mistakes but then you said perhaps the helicopter pilots were the ones who made the mistake. >> its ownst investigation. >> i understand that. that's when trying to figure how you can come to the conclusion right now diversity and something to do with this crash? >> because i have common sense. anden unfortunately a lot of people don't. we want brilliant people doing this for this is a major chess game at the highest level. when you have a 60 planes coming in during a short period of time and they'rea all coming in

different directions and you are dealing with very high level computer work and very complex computers, and one of the other things i will tell you is the systems that were built i was going to rebuild the entire system and we had elections did not turn out the way it should have. they did not build the systems properly spent a lot of money renovating the system spending much more money if they would have spent if they would've brought in a new system for the air traffic controllers meeting the computerized systems are certain companies into a very good job they did not use those companies that use companies that should not of been doingos it. it's very important to understand for some jobs not on this but air traffic controllers, they have to be at the highest level off genius. [inaudible] cooks on to ask you ice skaters because despite the faa the

implications this policy is new efforts began under president binder the transportation secretary pete buttigieg judge just a monstrously false it is demonstrably false for the f8 website it was there for the entirety of your administration too. so my question is why didn't you change the policy during your first demonstration question or. >> i did change i change the obama policy. we had t a very good at policy biden came in and changed it. and then, when i came into days three days ago i signed a new order bring it to the highest level of intelligence. [inaudible] >> i'm sorry. you mention a vision is a problem with the issue in this crash for there's somes reports one of the pilots in the hell and the helicopter might be using night vision progress going to know that pretty soon. it may change your viewpoint if you have night vision. it's very possible that could

have happened. that would be may be a reason you not actually see as well is on a clear night you can sometimes see better without it. [inaudible] >> is a helpful subject secretary of transportation confirmed this impact your interceding other nominees confirmed? >> is a helpful subject secretary of transportation confirmed this intensify your interest in getting other nominees directly involved question. >> we want fastt confirmation. the democrats as you know are doing everything we can to delay them. they have taken too long. we are struggling to get very good people everybody knows aregoing to be confirmed. were struggling to get them out faster. went out faster is a good question actually. we have been pushing sean. everybody knows sean for a long time many, many democrat votes they want to take as long as they can they ask questions like

some of the questions peter asked were totally irrelevant and not very good question. but they want to keep it going. they want tod keep going as long as possible i was honored. [inaudible] >> the impression. [inaudible] >> these of the things that will come up with the investigation. you don't know. the helicopter was obvious in the wrong place at the wrong time. and a tragedy occurred. please? [inaudible] you have been critical of the current regulations and you have been critical of the current regulations and you have called for big reforms at the faa. >> eight made the reforms. three days and i made the

reforms. >> what is your message to the american public in the weeks and months ahead should they feel hesitant to fly? if you could clarify perhaps something the defense secretary said onus is on a continuity of government mission. >> i do not know what that refers too. they were practicing for they do that they call practicing that is something that should be done. it's continuity in the sense once a very good people that has to be in continuity that's what they refer too. it was basically practiced in a practice that worked out very, very badly. [inaudible] corrects the first question, should people be hesitant to fly right now? like to know. i would not hesitate to fly. this is n something since in may

many years something like this is happened. the collision is something we do not expect to ever happen again. we're going to have the highest level people we've hired some of the people you've already hired for that position long before we knew about this. from the time i came and we started going out getting the best people because i said it's not appropriate what they are doing. i think it's a tremendous mistake. they like to do things and take them too far and this is in this sometimes what ends up happening. with that i'm not blaming the controller. i am saying there are things you can question like the height of the helicopter and the height of the blaming at the same level going in opposite directions is not a positive. were already hiring people flying is safe thank you all very much. thank you very much. [inaudible]

friday the national association of secretaries that will be for the winter conference the participants are expected outline how emergency situations like bomb threats, natural disasters and ããyou can watch this live starting at 11:00 a.m. eastern on c-span our free mobile app and online at c-span.org.