'We're the gold standard': GOP lawmaker calls for congressional hearing over DC plane crash

EXCLUSIVE: The apical Republican connected the House Transportation Committee’s subcommittee connected aviation is calling for a legislature proceeding into the deadly collision betwixt an American Airlines level and a subject chopper successful Washington, D.C.

"We accidental we are the golden standard, we conscionable request to proceed to support that level," Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, who chairs the subcommittee, told Fox News Digital successful an interview.

"I conscionable privation to beryllium down with each of them and, erstwhile the [National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)] does its study – marque definite that it’s precise accurate, it’s factual, and that they travel up with immoderate recommendations – and past we’ll person to spot if we request to alteration absorption oregon alteration people based upon those recommendations. But we don’t cognize yet."

Nehls praised Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves, noting his inheritance arsenic a pilot, and said helium would beryllium asking the Missouri Republican to convene meetings with the affected parties and those investigating the incident. Nehls suggested imaginable closed-door meetings to alteration much candid discussions but said a nationalist proceeding would besides beryllium successful order.

DC PLANE CRASH INVESTIGATORS TO REVIEW COMMUNICATION BETWEEN 2 AIRCRAFT: SENATOR 

Rep. Troy Nehls, aviation subcommittee chair, is monitoring the concern aft an American Airlines level collided with a subject chopper implicit the Potomac River. (Getty Images)

"We person to find retired the crushed for the clang and past travel up with, you know, recommendations to marque definite it doesn’t hap again," helium said. "We don’t request to beryllium sitting connected this. I don’t privation to hear, ‘It’s going to instrumentality 18 months.’ I don’t privation to perceive that."

And it appears national investigators are connected that aforesaid page.

NTSB officials said they anticipation to person a preliminary study retired successful astir 30 days.

"I deliberation that would beryllium fair," Nehls said. "But that shouldn't halt Congress looking into this and doing what we tin to help. I deliberation President Trump… expects it, and helium has a close to expect it from us, to marque definite that we support our aviation manufacture the modular for the world."

And portion helium is hoping for speedy results, Nehls emphatically cautioned against immoderate aboriginal speculation astir who oregon what is to blasted for the tragedy.

RECOVERY EFFORTS UNDERWAY AFTER AMERICAN AIRLINES JET, MILITARY HELICOPTER COLLIDE MIDAIR NEAR DC

FBI agents basal adjacent debris aft American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk chopper portion approaching Reagan National Airport successful Arlington, Virginia, connected Jan. 30, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

"Everybody wants to speculate arsenic to however did this happen, wherefore this happened. Whose responsibility is that? Is it the helicopter? Was it the airplane?" Nehls said. 

"I deliberation that is irresponsible. I deliberation you conscionable request to springiness it clip for the NTSB to investigate, you know, behaviour a precise thorough investigation."

Finger-pointing and speculation person already tally rampant, however. Some person blamed Congress for authorizing excessively galore caller hose contracts astatine Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which is person to the U.S. Capitol than the overmuch larger Washington-Dulles International Airport.

Others, chiefly connected the right, person argued that diverseness initiatives by Democratic administrations helped pb to the tragedy.

"I deliberation it’s excessively aboriginal for each of that," Nehls said erstwhile asked astir both.

No grounds has travel retired to enactment immoderate decision oregon origin of the clang truthful far.

Crews retrieve wreckage of American Airlines Flight 5342 successful the Potomac River. (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)

Nehls spoke with Fox News Digital the time aft a Black Hawk chopper carrying 3 work members crashed into a rider level heading from Wichita, Kansas, which was moments distant from landing astatine Reagan National Airport.

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Both craft were seen plummeting into the Potomac River betwixt Washington and neighboring Arlington, Virginia, wherever the airdrome is located.

U.S. officials person said determination are no survivors, and betterment efforts are inactive underway.

Fox News Digital reached retired to the House Transportation Committee for comment.

American Airlines has said 60 passengers and 4 unit members were aboard the plane, and the hose encouraged immoderate loved ones looking for accusation to telephone the numbers on its site.