The Politics Hour: Local leaders give us the latest on the deadly plane crash at DCA

The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi

On Wednesday night, a Blackhawk helicopter collided with a regional passenger jet over the Potomac River landing at National Airport in Arlington. There are no survivors, and 67 people are believed to be dead. U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-Virginia) discussed the latest on the deadly plane crash.

He said the crash has further heightened his concerns over air traffic control staffing. A preliminary F-A-A report confirmed staffing levels at National Airport’s air control tower were below what they should have been on Wednesday night. It’s been the case for years, with a workforce nearly a third below-targeted staffing levels per a 2023 workforce plan.

Warner is also warning that President Trump’s push to shrink the federal workforce could further deplete staffing levels. He worried about workers taking the White House’s delayed resignation offer.

“If a few thousand aircraft controllers say ‘we’re done with this, too much stress, too much hassle'... I don’t know how we operate airspace in America," Warner said.

Plus, we asked his warnings against adding flights at DCA.

Prince George's County is also helping with recovery and is closing sections of National Harbor as officials continue to recover debris. We asked Prince George's County Councilmember Wala Blegay about her county's role. And what does the White House's push to shrink the federal workforce mean for Prince George's County?

The District continues to offer support in the plane crash recovery operations. But it's doing so without an ice-breaking fire boat that's been out of service since 2022. We asked D.C. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen his thoughts. Plus, how does the confusion over the White House's federal funding freeze impact D.C?

And Allen talked about D.C. Council's vote next week on whether to expel Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White. He was arrested in August on federal bribery charges and the Council is expected to vote in favor of dismissing him from the legislative body. While Allen is saddened to have to make this choice, he said the penalty is needed.

"All of the rules of our code of conduct was violated. And I think it is clear as day and, obviously, on video," Allen said.

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