Jessica Tarlov, a co-host on Fox News, criticized President Donald Trump’s attempts to connect diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to the recent fatal aircraft collision in Washington, D.C. She pointed out the inconsistencies in Trump’s arguments and his administration’s own diversity programs.
In the January 31 episode of “The Five,” Tarlov commended Trump’s initial comments on the accident, delivered via teleprompter, but was critical of his off-the-cuff remarks made later. “Then he had a campaign rally in the middle of what should have been a somber occasion,” said Tarlov.
Tarlov referred to CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean’s analysis, quoting him as saying, “What he said was not only unprofessional, unpresidential, inconsiderate of the status of the investigation, but it’s frankly unhinged.”
The fatal midair collision on January 31, 2025, between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, resulted in 67 deaths, the deadliest U.S. air collision in over 20 years.
The Embraer E175 aircraft, which was carrying passengers including young figure skaters, coaches, a civil rights attorney, family members, and two Chinese nationals, collided with the military helicopter over the Potomac River at around 7:15 p.m. EST.
The recovery operations were difficult due to severe weather conditions. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has retrieved both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, which will be vital in determining the cause of the collision.
The day before the fatal collision, another jet had to abandon its approach to Reagan National Airport due to a helicopter in its flight path. This incident has spurred questions about the safety procedures in the complex airspace and the necessity for more altitude separation between low-flying aircraft and helicopters.
Tarlov noted that the DEI policies Trump criticized were enacted in 2013, stating, “He had every opportunity through his first administration to revoke them if he thought they were terrible, but he didn’t.” She further underscored that Trump himself initiated a diversity program for air traffic controllers in 2019, contradicting his present position.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that DEI policies do not affect air traffic controller hiring, and no preferential treatment is offered based on race, sex, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. The NTSB has not confirmed whether DEI initiatives played any part in the crash, asserting they would investigate all elements thoroughly.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called Trump’s comments “despicable,” highlighting that safety was the top priority during the Biden administration, which reported no commercial airline crash fatalities.
Civil rights leaders and disability advocates have firmly opposed Trump’s commentary. The Congressional Black Caucus denounced the remarks as “disgusting and disgraceful,” affirming that DEI initiatives embody American values and benefit all Americans.
Tarlov also discussed leadership vacancies at key federal agencies, pointing out the lack of a Senate-confirmed FAA leader since Michael Whitaker’s resignation. She noted that Trump associate Elon Musk had been pressuring Whitaker to resign for months, with threats of legal action over proposed SpaceX safety requirement fines.
The investigation into the cause of the collision is still underway, with federal investigators examining all possible contributing factors. Aviation safety experts stress the importance of awaiting the investigation’s findings before making determinations about the cause.
