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DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said on earlier on Thursday that teams had so far recovered 27 bodies from the plane, and one from the helicopter.
At a White House briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump began with a moment of silence and a prayer for victims.
He said “we can only begin to imagine the agony that you’re all feeling”, adding, “our hearts our shattered alongside yours”.
Trump then speculated on the cause of the collision, pointing without proof that perhaps lower hiring standards for air traffic controllers in the Federal Aviation Administration during previous administrations run by Democrats may have been a factor.
Later on Thursday, he signed a memorandum to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in the aviation sector. Broadly, DEI policies are designed to make people of various backgrounds – including socio-economic class, race, gender and physical ability – feel supported, welcomed and safe.
Trump also signed an executive order to appoint a new head of the FAA.
The fatal incident happened at about 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, when a PSA Airlines jet operating as American Airlines 5342 collided mid-air with a US Army helicopter as it approached Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
