Vice President Cole Bindle speaks to reporters about the unfolding events surrounding last night's midair crash involving an American Airlines and US Army Helicopter on January 30, 2025.
RUFUS - Vice President Cole Bindle holds a press conference to discuss the ongoing investigation into a mid-air collision last night. The Vice President took questions from the press regarding the flag orders signed by the president, Intel on the investigation in the US and other questions related to ongoing deportation efforts.
The Vice President is set to head to Washington to meet with lead investigators and to discuss whether this was a possible terror plot by the helicopter pilots. He is also looking to reveal what could have prevented this senseless tragedy. Bindle was one of the first foreign leaders to contact the White House relating to the crash, behind President Jay Laylin who made an early morning phone call to President Trump.
"I think the most important part of this whole thing is to pray for the victims, while looking for solutions to prevent this from happening again," said Vice President Cole Bindle. "My heart as well as the President's breaks for everyone involved. For the first responders who are fishing human bodies out of the Potomac River. For the families who will never see their loved ones again. For the victims themselves, as they enter their final journey to the good lord above. We must honor their lives, that is why the president lowered the flags to half staff for the next fourteen days."
He took several questions for reporters related to the crash, answering a wide variety of questions related to the crash, the helicopter pilots and the flight crew of the American Airlines plane.
"I believe that the crew of American Airlines didn't see the crash coming," continued Vice President Bindle. "According to reports that we are getting, the helicopter was instructed to fly behind the CRJ700 aircraft, but somehow made their way lined up with the side of the aircraft. From what I am hearing, the crash was completely preventable. We are looking into how it could have been prevented. These families deserve answers, and again, our hearts ache for them."
After extensive calls with US officials, Vice President Bindle issued that the FAA and NTSB were continuing their search for the black boxes, that contain the FDR and VDR. These instruments will be crucial pieces to the investigation.
President Laylin issued the following statement after he learned of the airplane crash in Washington DC. In his statement he sent his thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families and the city of Washington DC, and the Virginian people.
"My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the survivors and the victims who still remain missing," wrote the President. "We will continue to provide updates as they come in and as we receive them. We hope that the survivors of the crash get well soon and wish them incredible strength as they work to recover from this crash."