Pilots had reported near-misses with helicopters at Reagan National Airport in the years before the deadly crash

They collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach, and at this time, we don't know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft,

he said

We have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter,

said the fire chief

These responders found extremely frigid conditions. They found heavy wind. They found ice on the water, and they operated all night in those conditions,

Donnelly said

Donald TrumppRESIDENT

Do I think this was preventable? Absolutely."

When asked about President Donald Trump's statement Wednesday night that it

We never received a warning of the traffic from (air traffic control) so we were unaware it was there,

the pilot wrote, suggesting that

From a human perspective, this is something that should never happen and it’s tragic,

said the former DCA air traffic controller

Generally the way it worked was we’d get a contact from these helicopters and they’d say they’re going to be passing through the airspace,

the former controller said about his time in the control tower

It is completely normal for helicopters to be flying in that area,

said Ian Petchenik, a spokesperson for Flightradar24 , a flight-tracking company

It is a concert or orchestra of activity that requires careful communication and cooperation between pilots and Reagan tower,

Bowman told CNN

Randy Babbittformer FAA Administrator

It’s unbelievable how much we fly without incident,

said former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt

Upon review of the approach path and other information, we estimate we came within 300 ft. or less of what turned out to be a helicopter lifting off of the hospital,

the pilot wrote

This problem with congested airspace and near-misses has been brewing for several years,

former Transportation Department Inspector General Mary Schiavo told CNN

Pete Hegsethdefense Secretary

Tragically, last night, a mistake was made,

Hegseth said, ... adding that

I think that while they would have been told to switch runways, it's not this aggressive maneuver in a regional jet that would prompt them to reposition and be a surprise to the Black Hawk,

he said

I think you have to look at this with eyes wide open, see what happened,

Ogles said on the Fox Business Network

The crash] just could have been [caused by DEI policies],

he said

A group within the FAA determined that the workforce was too white, then they had concerted efforts to get the administration to change that and to change it immediately,

Trump said

Because I have common sense."

When reporters asked how he could determine that diversity had something to do with the crash while the investigation is in the early stages, he replied

Misha Mitrofanovamerican pair skater (born 1997)

We lost family members today,

Misha Mitrofanov, who teamed with Alisa Efimova to win the U.S. pairs championship, told reporters in Norwood, Massachusetts

Dean Winslowamerican physician and professor (born c. 1953)

It would have been very difficult to see and avoid,

Winslow said