It appears that the first major air disaster in the U.S. since 2009 has occurred while the Federal Aviation Administration does not have a permanent leader.

President Donald Trump on Thursday — without evidence — blamed Democrats and diversity, equity and inclusion practices for the plane crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that he deemed was a “tragedy of terrible proportions.”

Before holding a moment of silence for the deceased, Trump bashed the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), highlighting a memo that said the agency was “too white” during the Obama administration.

President Donald Trump read some headlines while speaking from the lectern at the White House briefing room, appearing to blame a “diversity push” at FAA without evidence for the midair collision in the Washington,

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he was appointing an acting Federal Aviation Administration administrator, Chris Rocheleau.

President Trump said diversity hiring efforts at the FAA could be a factor in the deadly DC plane crash, though when pressed about why, he acknowledged there’s no evidence.

The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions," Trump said.

CNN's aviation correspondent tore into President Donald Trump for blaming the deadly plane crash in Washington on DEI initiatives.

Multiple fatalities have been reported Thursday morning after an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter collided midair near Reagan Airport in D.C.