Donald Trump appears to point the finger on horrific Washington DC plane crash as he insists collision 'should have been avoided'
Watch the moment an American Airlines flight collides with Black Hawk helicopter
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Donald Trump has said the Washington DC plane crash "should have been prevented" in a finger-pointing statement after the deadly accident this morning.
Dozens of people are thought to have died after an American Airlines jet carrying 64 passengers collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter mid-air overnight.
And the President has now raised serious questions over the crash - labelling the incident part of a "terrible night" just 10 days into his second term in the White House.
Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said: "The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport.
Donald Trump has said the Washington DC plane crash 'should have been prevented'
REUTERS"The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time.
"It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn't the helicopter go up or down, or turn?
"Why didn't the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane?
"This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!"
PICTURED: Emergency services scramble to the Potomac River as rescue efforts remain underway
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He later added: "What a terrible night this has been. God bless you all!"
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall, from where the flight originated, has warned that everyone on board died, telling reporters at Reagan Airport early on Thursday that "it's really hard when you lose probably over 60 Kansans simultaneously".
"When one person dies, it's a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it's an unbearable sorrow," he said. "It's a heartbreak beyond measure."
In earlier statements, Trump and his Vice President JD Vance offered prayers for the victims of the horror collision.
WATCH AS IT HAPPENED:
JD Vance offered prayers for the victims of the horror collision
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"May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise," Trump said.
While Vance added: "Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We're monitoring the situation, but for now let's hope for the best."
American Airlines has confirmed that 64 people were aboard the jet - 60 passengers and four crew members.
While one US official said three soldiers were aboard the Black Hawk helicopter, which was on a training flight.
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Among those on board the jet were Russian ice skating coaches and former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov
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Among those on board the jet were Russian ice skating coaches and former world champions Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, according to Russian state media outlet Tass.
US Figure Skating added that "several members" of its skating community were on board.
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