(Gray News) – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the collision between an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army helicopter was preventable.
Duffy made the comment in response to a question asked during Thursday’s press conference regarding a comment President Donald Trump made on social media.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the collision “looks like it should have been prevented” and questioned the tactics of the military helicopter and air traffic controllers.
Duffy said on Thursday that he “absolutely” thinks the collision was preventable.
“I would just say that everyone who flies in American skies expects that we fly safely. That when you depart an airport, you get to your destination,” Duffy said. “That didn’t happen last night and I know that President Trump, his administration, the FAA, the DOT, we will not rest until we have answers for the families and for the flying public.”
Duffy said “with complete confidence” that the U.S. has the safest airspace in the world.
Duffy said that passengers should be “assured” that flying is safe and that the flight paths of the helicopter and plane were “not unusual” prior to the collision.
“Everything was standard in the lead up to the crash. Obviously, there was something that happened here,” Duffy said.
Sixty passengers and four crew members were aboard the American Airlines jet when it collided with an Army helicopter. Three soldiers were onboard the helicopter at the time of the crash.
Crews are still searching for other casualties but officials believe there were no survivors.
Copyright 2025 Gray Local Media, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
