I could write 3,000 words on the ghouls from both sides of the political aisle that started pointing fingers at each other in blame after the horrific news last night broke. All 67 aboard PSA 5342, flying a routine regional route for American Airlines from Wichita, Kansas into Reagan DCA were lost after a collision with a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter flying what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called an "annual proficiency training flight."  Politics will inevitably enter into the equation, and eventually, politics, along with transparency and actual information, might lead to knowledge that will drive the implementation of steps to make sure such a heartbreaking event doesn't happen again. 

Commercial aviation is such a routine occurrence that about the only time people think about it is when there's a weather delay, mechanical malfunction or a computer system collapse that causes people to go postal because they can't get to where they want, when they want. It's truly first world problems in the overall scheme of life when you look at the safety record of the millions upon millions of people that safely get hurtled through the air at 500-plus miles an hour in an aluminum tube with wings every day. 

Donald Trump is set to give a press conference specifically on what is being learned about the disaster at 11am, and hopefully the President will show compassion for the families that are now wrestling with the loss of life. 

What's needed right now is transparency. We began to see that almost immediately from both Secretary Hegseth and from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who after being sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas earlier in the day Wednesday, immediately had to begin his service with a horrific and tragic event. 

From Secretary Hegseth, this is what we know about the military helicopter that video seemed to indicate flew directly into the PSA flight while on final approach into Reagan over the Potomac. 

Update from Sec HEGSETH on the Blackhawk:

“It was an annual proficiency training flight... It was a fairly experienced crew, that was doing a required annual night evaluation. They did have night vision goggles. The 12th Aviation Battalion, as of now was granted a 48 hour…

— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) January 30, 2025

Just a bit later, Hegseth recorded and released this video. 

Exclusive video: Part 1 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responding to Blackhawk helicopter crash.
H/T @LucasFoxNews pic.twitter.com/qn4bAY7115

— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) January 30, 2025

And Secretary Duffy, literally on the job officially for maybe 12 hours, was seen at Reagan getting up to speed. 

🚨 NOW: Just HOURS after being sworn in as Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy is fully engaged in the crash investigation out here at Reagan National

It’s currently 1:30am, and his night is barely getting started.

Godspeed, @SecDuffy pic.twitter.com/X9zg3OU7Bv

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 30, 2025

The questions surrounding this disaster will be endless, and hopefully, the answers will be informed, accurate, and complete. Of all the questions that will be asked, "How could something like this happen," certainly is right up there at the top. 

If there is something that can be done at this stage, besides prayer, to provide clarity over conjecture, information over insinuation, it would be to do the best we can to put you into the seat of that helicopter and give you an idea of what actually goes on. 

Mark McEathron is not just an Army veteran, he was a Blackhawk helicopter crew chief. This is something everyone needs to take a breath and read before jumping to conclusions, engaging in partisan politics, or latching onto conspiracy theories. 

I was a Blackhawk helicopter crew chief in the Army.

I was even a Flight Instructor. This means that I trained Crew Chiefs and ensured that they completed all training annually to maintain their flight ratings.

One massive responsibility we had was to be the eyes for the…

— Mark McEathron (@Mark_McEathron) January 30, 2025

We will find out soon enough what caused the crash. There will almost certainly be revisions to both the Army's training program, and perhaps in the airspace around Reagan as a result. In the meantime, my desperate plea for everyone reading is to take a day and remember those who have been lost in your prayers, if you happen to be the praying type. 

This was the recovery of one of the first bodies found. It's very sobering. 

First responders stand in solemn honor as they carry the flag-draped remains of an unidentified victim recovered after a midair collision between an American Airlines flight and a Black Hawk helicopter. Officials now say they expect no survivors. pic.twitter.com/dumQdqgoHc

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 30, 2025

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was on another American Airlines flight Thursday morning, and reported this. 

I am on an American Airlines flight this morning and it was very touching when the pilot described the tragic loss of life in the midair collision at Reagan National Airport and asked for a moment of silence to pray for those who died and their families. It was a very sobering…

— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) January 30, 2025

Seems the right thing to do. Hopefully, that is being done on flights all over the country. 

67 people. Dear God. The next time you're on an airplane, exasperated because of how little room there is in coach, or the lines at TSA, or the traffic to get to the airport, or the delays, the weather, bags getting redirected, maybe keep this little video running in the back of your head. 

An infant got restless aboard a plane—so a flight attendant offered to hold the little girl while completing her pre-flight preparation.

The adorable baby is seen blowing kisses to passengers as they walk up the aisle.

pic.twitter.com/E7hsxx0Upw

— The Goddess (@TheGoddessF) January 29, 2025

Let's keep the right perspective, wait until the information comes out, and then have at it.