Condolences Following Fatal Plane Collision in D.C.
On January 29, a tragic airborne incident in Washington, D.C. resulted in several deaths. In response, President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed their sympathies to U.S. President Donald Trump on January 31.
That same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also sent his condolences to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The accident involved American Airlines flight 5342, which had 60 passengers and four crew members on board. It collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter that was carrying three service members. This incident is noted as the deadliest aviation event with a commercial flight in the U.S. since 2009.
While American Airlines has not disclosed the names of the deceased crew and passengers, some have been recognized through information shared by family and friends on social media.
President Trump’s administration has committed to a prompt and comprehensive investigation to uncover the reasons behind the crash. He pointed towards the possibility of errors made by the military helicopter’s crew or issues with air traffic control at Ronald Reagan National Airport as potential factors.