What to Know About the Tragic Air Crash Outside of D.C.
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What to Know About the Tragic Air Crash Outside of D.C.
On Wednesday night, an airplane collided with an army helicopter just outside of D.C., killing 67 in what is the deadliest U.S. air crash in over two decades.
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The crash occurred just outside of Reagan National Airport, sending both crafts into the Potomac River. As of Friday, over 40 bodies had been recovered from the river.
What Happened
The Associated Press shared details about the crash on Friday:
The regional jet out of Wichita, Kansas with 60 passengers and four crew was preparing to land. The UH-60 Black Hawk based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia was on a training exercise carrying three soldiers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Skies were clear.
A few minutes before the Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-700 series twin-engine jet was to land, air traffic controllers asked Flight 5342 if it could use a shorter runway. The pilots agreed. Controllers cleared the landing. Flight-tracking sites show the plane adjusted its approach to the new runway.
Less than 30 seconds before the collision an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the plane in sight. The military pilot responded yes.
Moments later the controller made another call to the helicopter, apparently telling the copter to wait for the jet to pass.
There was no reply and the aircraft collided.
As of now, bodies are still being recovered and an investigation into what caused the deadly crash is underway.
The President’s Response
This tragedy occurred less than two weeks into President Trump’s second term in the Oval Office. As such, the President was quick to address the nation. According to Just the News:
President Trump on Thursday morning spoke from the White House about the tragic air crash the previous night in which all of the passengers and crew members from the commercial passenger jet and military helicopter involved died, saying, “as a nation we grieve.”
Trump also said the Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation and Safety Board and the U.S. military will carry out a “systematic and comprehensive investigation.”
President Trump also suggested that DEI might have played a part in the crash, claiming that diversity hiring practices may have led to unqualified air traffic controllers.
The Secretary of Defense’s Response
Since the crash involved an army helicopter, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has also been busy addressing the nation. In a recent interview with Fox News the new Secretary promised to be “as transparent as possible” throughout the investigation.
Secretary Hegseth has called the pilots “experienced,” although he also defended President Trump’s blaming of DEI.
Need for Prayer
This crash did not happen out of the blue. The New York Post reported that the FAA has had air traffic control staffing issues since the pandemic, issues that it still has yet to recover from. From The Post:
In 2023, the Department of Transportation revealed that a whopping 77% of critical air traffic control facilities were understaffed.
The same year, two Times investigations revealed that near-misses on airport runways – known as “incursions” – were astonishingly high, and that overworked, burnt-out air traffic controllers had fallen asleep on the job or gotten drunk at work.
Last year Congress passed a $105 million spending bill to address the problem, but the shortages persisted, and FAA was still down around 3,000 controllers, CNN reported, causing flight delays in airports across the country.
…
Meanwhile, the number of documented close calls on American runways remains stubbornly high, with the FAA reporting around 1,750 runway incursions in each of the past three years, compared to just 1,278 in 2014.
Let’s pray for protection over our skies and for all who are flying in our nation. Let’s also pray for the Trump administration, which is facing a major test less than two weeks after the inauguration. Pray especially for Secretary Hegseth, who was in office for less than a week when this crash took place.
Above all else, pray for the truth to be revealed and for God’s will to be done.
Share your own prayers in the comments below.
(Photo Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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Comments
There is nothing wrong with having a diverse workforce. I worked in one for over 30 years. However, white, male or cisgendered individuals that are the most qualified should not be passed over for employment or promotion because they are not in a minority group. I don’t know if this happens now. There used to be affirmative action. The air traffic controllers that work at Reagan must be the best of the best because of the constricted airspace and the amount of airplane and helicopter traffic. It shouldn’t matter about anything but competence and experience. This job is obviously a lot tougher job than an air traffic controller job at a small regional airport with not much helicopter traffic. I don’t know about the helicopter. Maybe we should fly the helicopter training runs a few hours later when there is less airplane traffic. We should try to discover what mistakes were made to learn from them so hopefully this never happens again.
Important to know: Blackhawk helicopters do have capability of remote piloting. The recklessness of this DC collision does not square with the great qualifications of the pilots. That is why we must pray for a transparent investigation to reveal whether this was actually a terrorist incident. May truth and justice prevail as the devastated families grieve those 67 departed souls!
I just want to say thank you to all of my fellow intercessors who stayed true to our calling and posted empathetic prayers in regard to this tragedy. Our comments should be focused on expressing compassion for the victims families, and prayer concerning the safety of our transportation. This is not a political football to be bandied about, when people have lost their lives.
Your always so holier than thou…
Yes, she is.
Derp state.
This should be a reminder to all that we never know how much time a person has left on this earth. Are they ready to meet the Lord, should we be making sure they know the Lord.
With all due respect, Mr. Soccre…
DEI is satan’s twisted version of what God created and intends.
with all due respect, not according to scripture and not according to Jesus. According to Jesus, what is Satan’s twisted intent is to lock people into us vs them thinking, holding people to different standards (see Matt 5). What is Satan’s evil intent is to get people to pray self-righteously trusting in their own goodness and looking down on others who are different (see Luke 18). What is Satan’s evil intent is to get people so convinced that they are on the ‘right team’ that they fail at the most basic understanding of what is good and right (see Luke 10)
Oddly enough, I agree with you!
Yes, but satan has more than just those kinds of twisted plans.
John, Thank you for that and your previous post. It is hard to witness to the gospel in uncongenial and hostile surroundings, so it is so important that you continue to show forth the gospel of grace to IFA.
From all spiritual blindness; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy, from envy, hatred and malice; and from charitableness, good Lord deliver us. Amen.
Oops seem to have lost the ‘un’ in uncharitableness, sorry.
U r nuts
The blind allegiance to Trump from a Christian website is astounding. His DEI comment was wholly inappropriate. He makes this an issue and IFA supports it. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are Biblical issues. Read the New Testament. The miracle of Pentecost was the church being thrown open and including diverse populations from all over the world. And Paul’s letters and the book of Acts show a church wrestling successfully with what it meant to include diverse viewpoints. This small Jewish sect transformed the world because of DEI. And, it is remarkable that Trump gets away with talking about hiring policies being insufficient when he has brought forward so many candidates for positions in his administration that are wholly unqualified but align with him politically. That is what should make Christians angry about hiring decisions.
Requiring diversity, equity and inclusion in hiring practices has resulted in hiring many unqualified people to critical positions. Also it is using nice sounding words to confuse well meaning people about the real intentions of this hiring policy.
I believe you are very misinformed about Trump and his choices for his administration. Of course they agree with him. But they are also very qualified.
I really there is a misunderstanding of what DEI is. DEI is not about hiring unqualified people. What leadership in any organization would deliberately look at hiring people who are unqualified? What DEI is is making sure you are casting as wide a net as possible to get as diverse a group of candidates to apply as possible. When an organization recruits and publicizes openings, they can restrict where they advertise, getting a limited demographic to apply. The point of expanding recruitment is not to open a job to unqualified people but to cast as wide a net to find qualified people as possible in as many demographics as possible. Further, using equity in hiring is establishing the qualifications that you really want before anyone walks in for an interview. In this way, you don’t hire simply by demographics but the most qualified person period. In our sinful nature, if we are not careful to establish the qualifications first, hiring committees tend to hire in a very homogenous manner.
Thanks for speaking truth.
Thank you for your comment. See my comment above, if IFA does not remove it. I’m wondering how many people who post on here ever serve on hiring committees. It is really difficult work and care really needs to be taken to make sure that committees are not biased. This is really difficult to do. And I’ve been on many hiring committees, I’ve never been one where you wouldn’t be laughed out to the room if you suggested trying to hire someone who was not qualified. The difficult part is finding the right match and being careful not to be biased. Christians should be aware that we are not God and we are fallible and we need to be careful with our bias’. Christians should take care to address their own bias’.
Your exactly right!
Thank you!
You are one sad attempt at humanity John Soccre, and of course, You Failed.
R u even a Christian?
I agree very much with the comments of others who want the truth revealed about this collision. There is much that doesn’t add up. The videos show the helicopter flying right into the commuter jet. No pilot would intentionally do this several seconds after being informed by the air traffic controller, unless they were suicidal. On the other hand, Blackhawk helicopters have all kinds of software that is designed to avoid collisions, and they are capable of being remotely piloted. My prayer is that the whole truth will come out and reveal exactly what happened and why.
It’s a conspiracy….whoa
You are correct about the Blackhawk capability of remote piloting. The recklessness of the collision does not square with the great qualifications of the pilots. This is why we must pray for a transparent investigation to reveal whether this was actually a terrorist incident. May truth and justice prevail as those devastated families grieve the 67 departed souls!
I, for one, think we should praise God for Trump raising the issue of DEI, because if we hire people based on political issues instead of competence, well, we might just end up with a Fox host in charge of the military, a J6 supporter in charge of the FBI, and an anti-vax quack and former heroin addict in charge of the health department. We wouldn’t want that, would we? And of course, again as Christians obviously we are against diversity, equity, and inclusion. Those issues are Biblical but we’ll just go ahead and ignore that.
I am very disappointed in your comment. Your gratuitous, comments smearing Trump’s appointees are out-of-place in this discussion.
And the DEI comment by Trump is completely disrespectful, especially to the family of the female CAPTAIN piloting the Black Hawk. You make captain by merit. Not DEI.
Your not welcome here either.
Agree, we would never want anyone hired on political views rather than demonstrated competence. You wouldn’t do that. And it would be a great shame and embarrasment if a US President apportioned blame before there was an investigation. You would not do that, it would be unthinkable. It would be against the clear teaching of the gospel.
It’s nice that you have this revelation for your life while others are free to have the revelation which God has shown them. We’re all learning to hear our Master’s voice and are at different paths of our journey.
In case you’ve forgotten, Jesus offered a stone to the Pharisees who wanted to stone a prostitute. He’s also told us not to quarrel. Just a reminder that God will take care of each of us as He knows best. In the meantime, it is our responsibility to love each other in spite of our differences and our walk with Him. You are only responsible for yourself while others are only responsible for themselves. May God’s loving mercy continue to guide each of us as we miss His marks but see His Grace.
Oh my, you sir have clearly been deceived by MSM propaganda. Perhaps God Almighty wants anti-vax, pro-health leaders. Suerly He desires for Jan 6th political prisoners to receive fair trials. Please pray for better discernment and educate yourself on true knowledge. Peace and hope to you!
I pray that we will learn to allow appropriate time for families to grieve and for thorough research and investigations to take place before we begin blaming. We need the wisdom of God in dealing with these heart-wrenching situations.
I prayer that Almighty God will turn all tears into comfort, and heartbreaks into healing.
God will grant the family and friends the fortitude to bear the great loss. Jesus, the comforter, Prince of peace, as you understand their feelings, please abide with them, comfort and give the them peace.
We that are alive, I pray that God will help us to realize that there is a step between us and death. God will enable us to approach each day with the mindset that it could be the final day. Help us to live as if today is our last day!
Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
Romans 14:8 “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
I pray that God will grant all those who are involved in the investigation the skills and wisdom to find the truth and to rectify things for safety and security in Jesus’s name.
Amen.
Father, I join in praying that the entire truth regarding this tragedy be revealed. Please bring comfort to the deceased family members and others who had connections with them. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Amen!
Lord, please intervene in this tragedy. Please comfort all who mourn. In the coming investigation, may there be more truth-seeking than blame-game. I pray that any and all contributing factors would be brought to light and dealt with in wisdom. Please raise up more qualified air traffic controllers. Please grant alertness and awareness and sobriety to all who are entrusted with public safety in the airline industry – from mechanics to pilots to ATC personnel, etc. I pray that a spirit of cooperation and transparency would be the hallmark of this investigation.
I ask that any triangulation of the enemy over this area – since there has been another aircraft disaster since – be broken, and demonic entities scattered. May believers on flights take spiritual authority and bring Kingdom life in situations like this.
May God bless your “theories ” lol.
BIG prayer request…
I live in NoVa, and my daughter-in-law is a funeral director in Arlington, VA…
Well, her funeral home is handling ALL of the victims remains of the horrible plane/helicopter crash in DC. this past week. 😢
Needless to say, she and the rest of their staff at the Funeral Home are overwhelmed with doing the arrangements, and finding family members to identify the victims, transporting the remains…There’s a lot of logistics involved.
Please keep her and the rest of the staff at the Funeral Home in your prayers.
They consider themselves
“Last Responders”.
They are so important and such a blessing to these families in recovering their loved ones and reuniting them, and sending them home.🙏
YHVH, we ask that You strengthen and support all who have been or will be effected by this crash, from first to last responders, families, friends, etc. – even those who now must investigate. We pray for those who are believers, especially, because the excellence with which they do their jobs honors You. Use them to Your glory.
They also need special sensitivity as to when to share the Gospel with those they are working with and attempting to help. May no opportunity be missed.
Bless u dear. Lol.
May the Lord bless these heartless trolls with hope found only in regeneration through Christ Jesus our Lord!
How sad all the way around. Changes need to be made in many areas of airline safety, and sending training missions in a helicopter into a flight pattern. Lord, I pray that you will send Holy Spirit comfort to the family and loved ones who are grieving this tragic loss. Tank You Lord.
Remember that there is more going on here. Than just the run of the mill accidental crash.. in that our nation has been subverted for many, many years- going back well into the early part of the 20th century…
by people coming into this country that are not friends of America, but in fact, are enemies of America.
Our system has been subverted. And we are now in the process of repentance and returning to the path of righteousness for the Lord’s namesake.
We are Correcting and implementing all of these systems, so please pray for President Trump. The airline industry of all types, as well .
We are in the recovery process and just as a patient in a hospital needs tender care-, America needs tender spiritual care and understanding.
Lord, please in your mercy and wisdom be with all of our industry in America. The airline industry, especially in this case, and continue to provide guardian angels, and holy spirit power to protect our waterways, all of our manufacturing and all of our food processing plants, and especially our airlines and military aircraft and the routing overseen by the traffic controllers as well-, and allow for superior training and provision of enough well suited aircraft controller applicants and hired new applicants-, to take care of this need.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Father, Comfort those who have lost loved ones, bring wisdom to all who required to have answers, for You are comforter. May You give us the wisdom in how to avoid such accidents. Help the families to turn to You, be their peace as they walk through this loss.
Father, praise You for your goodness for the lives who have not been lost. Comfort all who have been directly impacted. Reveal Your truth and protect it so that it can be revealed. Give wisdom to those investigating. Turn their eyes and ears to You for understanding and revelation. In Jesus’ holy name.
All Mighty GOD, Praise you Lord .. You are our comforter in times of sorrow, I speak JESUS over every family of the people that were on the plane that crashed .. May every. Person that perished be found in Jesus name! Send your Pastors out to speak comfort and peace to the families.. In Jesus Christ name I pray AMEN!
Our hearts grieve for all the families that have lost their loved ones. How tragic and heartbreaking! We pray that they would find comfort and peace in the arms of our beloved Jesus. We pray that the cause of the collision would be fully investigated and made transparent to all concerned. And finally we ask our Heavenly Father to give the FAA wisdom that will prevent further collisions and near misses.
May the Lord bring peace, comfort, and healing to all of the families and friends of the victims of this tragedy. May the Lord bring all of the truth to light concerning the reasons this tragedy occurred.. In the Name of Jesus i pray. Amen.
You never expect these things to come close to home. My son is a pastor. One of the people on board is the grandson of a lady in his church. As the only pastor in his town, he will be doing the funeral. He’s already had reporters at his door. May he be able to wisely share the gospel with all who attend the funeral.
I pray that those family members who lost loved ones will turn to Him. He is the beginning and the end. Love to all who are suffering, may you turn to God who knows all things.
Lie.
How do you know that this is a lie? Do you know this person?