The tragic accident involving an American Airlines regional jet and a military helicopter late Wednesday underscores how fatal crashes of passenger planes in the U.S. are rare, and “near misses” are also becoming rarer.

Democrats are excoriating President Donald Trump for his “grotesque” claim that federal agency diversity requirements caused the deadly midair collision over the Potomac River Wednesday night. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer slammed the president’s remarks as insensitive to the victims’ families,

Later on, just before 11:30 a.m., the President delivered remarks about the crash to press in the White House briefing room. He was joined by Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

Flight data showed the plane coming from New Orleans looping around Reagan before heading to Baltimore moments after the collision. To jet was rerouted to Baltimore before 8:10 p.m. and landed at about 8:15 p.m., according to FlightAware .

U.S. commercial pilot Rick Redfern was preparing to land at Reagan Washington National Airport a decade ago when he spotted a Coast Guard helicopter hovering about 50 feet off the Potomac River. Air traffic control promptly warned the helicopter pilot to stay clear,

President Donald Trump questioned the Army helicopter in the fatal crash for flying at the same height at an American Airlines plane.

No survivors had been found as of early morning in Washington, while D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said bodies had been recovered from both aircraft.

President Donald Trump said the cause for the crash involving an American Airlines plane and military aircraft has yet to be determined Thursday during a White House press conference.

President Trump delivered a statement on the deadly plane crash near Washington, D.C., calling it a "dark and excruciating night in our nation's capital." The president said the federal government would be "working tirelessly" to figure out what happened as responders shift to a recovery operation.