Trump on the disaster over Washington: "A time of pain for our nation."

The passenger plane Bombardier CRJ-700 collided with the military helicopter Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and crashed into the Potomac while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport.

"I am reaching out to you in a time of pain for our country," the president said. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims.

Among the passengers were figure skaters and coaches returning home from a training camp after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. This included the 1994 World Figure Skating Champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The Russians were coaching in the U.S., and their son Maxim Naumov represents the American team.

Additionally, on board was Soviet figure skater Inna Volyanskaya, who also worked as a coach in the U.S. Their deaths have not been officially confirmed; however, Trump stated that no one survived the crash.

He promised to do everything necessary to uncover the circumstances of the disaster, reports Voice of America. The investigation will be conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Pentagon.

Calling for national unity in the wake of the disaster, Trump criticized his presidential predecessors. He stated that due to the inclusivity programs implemented during their tenure, the FAA had hired insufficiently qualified staff. "I prioritize safety. Obama, Biden, and the Democrats prioritize politics," the politician said.

He announced the appointment of 78-year-old Chris Rocheleau as acting head of the FAA, a former head of the National Business Aviation Association. The previous leader, Mike Whitaker, resigned following Trump's election. Prior to this, one of the president's key allies during the election campaign, billionaire Elon Musk, had called for his resignation.