| CROWDED SKIES, UNDERSTAFFING, AND A FATAL MISTAKE: The investigation has just begun, but a clearer picture is already emerging of the cause of Wednesday night's midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed all 67 people on both aircraft. To understand the proximate cause of the accident — that is to say the last of many factors that led to the deadly accident — you have to be able to picture the layout of Washington's Reagan National Airport located on the west shore of the Potomac River. The passenger jet approaching from the south, curved to the right, moving over land to align with Runway 33, a shorter runway that cuts diagonally across the main north-south runway. The Army Black Hawk was proceeding south on a night proficiency exercise along the river’s eastern edge, in an area designated for helicopter traffic. An air traffic controller warns the Black Hawk pilot of the plane and directs the helicopter to avoid it under visual fight rules. The Army pilot appears to confirm that he sees the plane and is maintaining "visual separation." Usually, the helicopter would be able to easily maneuver to avoid the passenger jet landing ahead of it. But it now seems likely — and an investigation by the NTSB and the Army will provide the final answer — that the Army pilot, believed to be wearing night vision goggles that can limit his field of view, saw the lights of a different plane and thought he was in the clear until it was too late. Video of the collision shows another plane passing in front of the helicopter, and aviation enthusiasts also note that a third plane was approaching the main runway from the south. MULTIPLE DIFFICULTIES HAVE SURROUNDED REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT BEFORE FATAL CRASH 'BLAME THE DEAD PILOT': Aviation safety experts caution against the tendency in accident investigations to "blame the dead pilot," focusing on the last mistake in a chain of events, without considering all the factors that may have put the pilot in a dangerous, perhaps impossible situation, beginning, in this case, with the procedures for handling helicopter traffic in a highly crowded air space where commercial flights are landing within minutes of each other. "I think what leaps out at me is in one of the busiest runways in America and the busiest air traffic corridor in America, asking a pilot wearing night goggles, 'Hey do you have that aircraft in sight?' is not a very good way to carry out aircraft separation," Mary Schiavo, a former Inspector General for the Department of Transportation, said on CNN. "Major changes have to be made." "They said aircraft in sight, and there are a lot of airplanes," David Soucie, a former FAA safety inspector, said during the CNN segment. "There's another airplane that comes across in front of that video, and you can see that. So it appears to me that that pilot in that helicopter may have mistaken the wrong airplane and said, 'Yeah, I have it in sight.'" Compounding the problem is the reports that the tower at Reagan National Airport was understaffed, with two people doing the job of four, and the position of helicopter controller — a role typically staffed until 9:30 p.m. — was combined and assigned to another controller, according to the report, which was described to the Washington Post. DCA AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL STAFFING AT TIME OF POTOMAC CRASH WAS 'NOT NORMAL': FAA TRUMP: FAA 'TOO WHITE' OR TOO WOKE?: President Donald Trump, at a morning news conference, was quick to suggest the tragedy might be a consequence of Obama administration efforts to open more federal jobs, including at the FAA, to people with disabilities, making it appear that vital jobs like air traffic controllers were being filled by people with mental illnesses. “The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website," Trump said reading from what appeared to be a recent article from Fox News. "The initiative is part of the FAA’s diversity and inclusion hiring plan. Think of that. The initiative is part of the FAA’s diversity and inclusion hiring plan, which says diversity is integral to achieving FAA’s mission of ensuring safe and efficient travel," Trump said. "I don’t think so. I don’t think so. I think it’s just the opposite." "Are you saying this crash was somehow caused as the result of diversity hiring? And what evidence have you seen to support these claims?" a reporter asked. "It just could have been. We have a high standard. We've had a much higher standard than anybody else. And there are things where you have to go by brainpower," Trump said. "You have to go by psychological quality, and psychological quality is a very important element of it." At another point, reading from another article, Trump alleged previous leadership had determined that the FAA was "too white." "They actually came out with a directive, too white. And we want the people that are competent," Trump said. "We’re going to look into that, and we’re going to see, but certainly, for an air traffic controller, we want the brightest, the smartest, the sharpest, we want somebody that’s psychologically superior, and that’s what we’re going to have." The FAA says candidates for an air traffic controller position with "targeted disabilities" must meet the "same rigorous consideration in terms of aptitude, medical and security qualifications as those individuals considered for a standard public opening for air traffic controller jobs." “The FAA employs tens of thousands of people for a wide range of positions, from administrative roles to oversight and execution of critical safety functions," the FAA told Fox News. "Like many large employers, the agency proactively seeks qualified candidates from as many sources as possible, all of whom must meet rigorous qualifications that, of course, will vary by position." TRUMP RAILS AGAINST DEI AT PRESS CONFERENCE ON CAUSE OF FATAL DC PLANE CRASH Good Friday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre's Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie (@chriswtremo). Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn't work, shoot us an email and we'll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE RUBIO: GREENLAND GRAB 'NOT A JOKE': In an interview with Megyn Kelly on her SiriusXM show, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Trump is dead serious about making Greenland part of the United States. "This is not a joke," Rubio said. "This is not about acquiring land for the purpose of acquiring land. This is in our national interest, and it needs to be solved." Rubio cited a potential move by China to establish bases on Greenland, an Arctic island that currently belongs to Denmark. "It is completely realistic to believe that the Chinese will eventually, maybe in the short term, try and do in Greenland what they have done at the Panama Canal and in other places, and that is install facilities that give them access to the Arctic with the cover of a Chinese company," Rubio said. "But that, in reality, just serves a dual purpose, that in a moment of conflict, they could send naval vessels to that facility and operate from there, and that is completely unacceptable to the national security of the world and the national security of the United States." When Kelly noted that while Denmark alone might not be able to repulse the Chinese navy, as a NATO ally, the tiny country would have the power of the alliance — including the United States — to deter any assault by China. "That's the president's point. Denmark can't stop them. They would rely on the United States," Rubio said, adding that if the U.S. were "on the hook" to protect Greenland, then "we might as well have more control over what happens." While Trump has not ruled out military force, Rubio insisted the U.S. wants to buy Greenland at a fair price. "He is not going to begin what he views as a negotiation or a conversation by taking … leverage off the table, and that's a tactic that's used all the time in business," Rubio said. "It's being applied to foreign policy and, I think to great effect in the first term." TRUMP'S 'DONROE DOCTRINE' SEEKS TO MAKE AMERICA 'GREATER' IN SIZE BY CARVING THE WORLD INTO 19TH CENTURY-STYLE SPHERES OF INFLUENCE HEGSETH AND NATO: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is preparing for his first meeting with fellow NATO defense ministers in two weeks. He spoke by phone yesterday to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in what the Pentagon called "an introductory call." Rutte has praised President Trump for his call for NATO members to spend more than the current 2% goal on their militaries but hasn't yet endorsed Trump's 5% goal. At the same time, Rutte argued in a speech this month at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that without a clear victory in Ukraine, the debate over defense spending will be moot. If Ukraine loses, that would mean that within NATO — we are not talking about whatever 3% instead of the present spending commitments … will not be billions extra, it will be trillions extra." "Both leaders stressed the importance of raising Allied defense spending and expanding defense industrial base capacity on both sides of the Atlantic," the Pentagon said in a readout of the call. "Secretary Hegseth emphasized that the United States is fully committed, under President Trump's leadership, to pursuing these objectives in the face of today's threats." "We have to change the trajectory of the war," Rutte said at Davos. "We really have to step up and not scale back the support for Ukraine." THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' seeks to make America 'greater' in size by carving the world into 19th century-style spheres of influence Washington Examiner: Multiple difficulties have surrounded Reagan National Airport before fatal crash Washington Examiner: DCA air traffic control staffing at time of Potomac crash was 'not normal': FAA Washington Examiner: Military identifies 3 soldiers killed in Black Hawk collision with plane near Reagan airport Washington Examiner: Trump rails against DEI at press conference on cause of fatal DC plane crash Washington Examiner: How Sean Duffy's first day at DOT went from triumph to tragedy Washington Examiner: Gabbard nomination hangs in balance after turbulent confirmation hearing Washington Examiner: Tulsi Gabbard repeatedly refuses to denounce Edward Snowden as a 'traitor' Washington Examiner: Tulsi Gabbard declares she is nobody's 'puppet,' vows to end 'weaponization' of intelligence community Washington Examiner: Israel delays transfer of Palestinians after 'shocking' hostage release scenes Washington Examiner: Incoming UK ambassador to US retracts past comments on 'racist' Trump being 'danger to the world' Washington Examiner: How Trump's illegal immigrant arrests stack up to 'deporter in chief' Obama Washington Examiner: Takeaways from Kash Patel's Senate hearing where Trump and past FBI bashing dominated Washington Examiner: Kash Patel stares down tough confirmation test Washington Examiner: Trump's sights on acquiring Greenland is 'national interest': Marco Rubio Washington Examiner: Trump suggests oil could be exempt from Canada and Mexico tariffs Washington Examiner: White House weighing new hires to record all of Trump's words Washington Examiner: Tom Rogan Opinion: Woke entertainers find patriotism tough AP: Conspiracies, espionage, an enemies list: Takeaways from a wild day of confirmation hearings Breaking Defense: Army Secretary Nominee Pledges Focus on Aviation After Black Hawk Collides with Airliner AP: Trump was challenged after blaming DEI for the DC plane crash Defense News: Sweden to Provide Ukraine with $1.2 Billion Military Aid Package Breaking Defense: Elbit to Supply Israel with $80 Million in EW and Protection Suites for F-16s Air & Space Forces Magazine: NORAD Sends Fighter Patrols to Monitor Russian Military Flights in the Arctic Defense One: How DeepSeek Changed the Future of AI—and What That Means for National Security Air & Space Forces Magazine: Focus on Your Self: Space RCO Wants Satellites to Sense Nearby Threats, Hazards Air & Space Forces Magazine: Northrop Reveals Another B-21 Contract, in Talks with USAF About Faster Production Stars and Stripes: Air Force's New Jungle Survival Course Prepares Troops for Remote Deployments Air Force Times: Air Force Demoted Two-Star After Affair, 'Voluminous' Sexting, IG Says New York Post: Opinion: Trump will rue recklessly yanking security from Mike Pompeo, others in Iran's crosshairs THE CALENDAR: FRIDAY | JANUARY 31 10 a.m. — Brookings Institution virtual discussion: “Fit to fight: Analyzing women’s roles in the U.S. military," with retired Army Lt. Col. Jason Gallardo; retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. Amy McGrath; retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Lori Reynolds; retired Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson, nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology; and Michael O’Hanlon, defense and strategy chair, senior fellow and director of the Brookings Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology https://connect.brookings.edu/register-to-watch-women-military 10 a.m. — National Institute for Deterrence Studies virtual seminar: “The Middle East Missile Update and the Iranian Nuclear Threat,” with Shoshana Bryen, senior director, Jewish Policy Center; and Ilan Berman, senior vice president, American Foreign Policy Council https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event 10 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “Updating U.S.-Japan Cybersecurity Cooperation," with Takashi Michikata, director of the Japanese Office of the Director General for Cybersecurity; Adam Segal, director of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program; Dai Mochinaga, associate professor at the Shibaura Institute of Technology; and Jeffrey Hornung, senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation https://www.hudson.org/events/updating-us-japan-cybersecurity-cooperation 11 a.m. 1747 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — National Council of Resistance of Iran-U.S. news conference “to reveal intelligence on the Iranian regime’s covert efforts to produce nuclear warheads.” https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ncri-us-to-expose-tehrans-new-secret-nuclear-warhead MONDAY | FEBRUARY 3 12:40 p.m. EST Brussels, Belgium — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte holds a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after a meeting at NATO Headquarters Livesteam at https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 5 10 a.m. 2167 Rayburn — House Transportation and Infrastructure Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hearing: “America Builds: Maritime Infrastructure.” http://transportation.house.gov TUESDAY | FEBRUARY 11 8 a.m. 2401 M St., NW — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group breakfast: "Exclusive, Advance Preview of a Munich Security Conference Report on 'Unspoken Barriers to Innovation in Defense,'" with Matthew Schlueter, global head of defense and security, Boston Consulting Group By invitation, email: [email protected]. 10 a.m. 2154 Rayburn — House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on sanctuary cities policies. http://oversight.house.gov 10 a.m. 310 Cannon — House Homeland Security Committee hearing: “Preparing the Pipeline: Examining the State of America’s Cyber Workforce," with testimony from Robert Rashotte, vice president of Training Institute and Global Engagement, Fortinet; David Russomanno, executive vice president of academic affairs and provost, University of Memphis; Chris Jones, president and CEO, Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corp; and Max Stier, president and CEO, Partnership for Public Service http://homeland.house.gov THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 13 TBA Brussels, Belgium — NATO Defence Ministers meet for two days at NATO Headquarters in Brussels https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 14 All Day Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich, Germany — The 61st Munich Security Conference is held through Sunday https://securityconference.org/en/msc-2025/ | | | | "This is not a joke … This is not about acquiring land for the purpose of acquiring land. This is in our national interest and it needs to be solved." | | Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking Thursday on "The Megyn Kelly Show" on SiriusXM about President Trump's desire to buy Greenland from Denmark |
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