The U.S. Military is dealing with growing backlash from households of the 67 individuals killed in January’s catastrophic midair collision over the Potomac River, with relations accusing navy officers of evasion, stonewalling, and refusing to take duty.
In a letter despatched this week to Military Secretary Dan Driscoll, 168 members of the family of the victims expressed their profound disappointment with the Military’s conduct in the course of the ongoing investigation. In line with The Washington Publish, they criticized the navy’s sample of silence and secrecy, particularly in comparison with the responsiveness proven by different businesses.
“The Military’s strategy contrasts sharply with the extra collaborative stance taken by different organizations concerned on this incident and raises severe questions on its dedication to transparency and accountability,” the letter reads.
On the coronary heart of the households’ frustration is the Military’s refusal to interact meaningfully with them, regardless that different events concerned within the tragedy—such because the Nationwide Transportation Security Board and the Division of Transportation—have been extra forthcoming.
The crash occurred when an Military Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Eagle Flight 5342 because the industrial jet was making its ultimate strategy to Reagan Nationwide Airport.
The letter highlights the Military’s notably egregious determination to withhold an unclassified ADS-B coverage memo from Congress, solely releasing it beneath risk of subpoena. The tools, which detects and helps keep away from potential collisions, was reportedly not transmitting from the Military helicopter in the course of the accident, a element uncovered by the NTSB.
“These actions show the Military’s willingness to bypass official processes and resist oversight when deflecting scrutiny. On the identical time, the Military has cited course of whereas persistently refusing to just accept duty and even acknowledge the households all through these ordeals,” the letter continues.
In line with relations, Military officers held a single preliminary assembly after the crash however then disappeared. They added that updates, after they got here, had been typically dropped throughout holidays, which they believe was meant to attenuate press protection.
In the meantime, President Donald Trump, who initially pledged help for the victims, solely fueled extra outrage. Within the days following the tragedy, he provided a collection of weird and baseless theories, blaming all the things from range, fairness, and inclusion packages to President Barack Obama and dwarfism. None of those claims had any connection to the crash, nor had been they supported by proof.
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Even because the NTSB continues its investigation, households say that the Military has failed to satisfy the second. A protection official confirmed to the Publish that senior Military leaders now plan to satisfy with affected households later this month, alongside the NTSB’s public hearings. However for a lot of relations, this will come far too late.
Some households, like that of co-pilot Sam Lilley, are particularly outraged. Lilley’s father, Tim—himself a former Black Hawk pilot—mentioned that the crash reveals coaching shortcomings and a tradition of complacency throughout the navy unit concerned.
The Military’s inspector normal has refused to open an unbiased audit into the incident, regardless of bipartisan help and congressional strain, one other sore level raised within the letter.
“On condition that that is the deadliest incident involving U.S. civilian casualties brought on by the navy in trendy historical past, the Military has a heightened duty to make sure full public transparency and pressing implementation of significant security reforms,” the letter reads. “The dimensions of this tragedy calls for full cooperation and accountability from all events concerned—together with the U.S. Military.”
Their requests are simple: Appoint a household liaison, maintain a full assembly with households, and help the congressional audits.
It’s a easy ask after an unspeakable loss. However as soon as once more, the Trump administration—and its navy management—seem extra fascinated with protecting their tracks than confronting arduous truths.
