Famous Hero Pilot ‘Disgusted’ by Trump’s Response to D.C. Plane Crash

A national hero has spoken out against former President Donald Trump’s response to the devastating mid-air collision over Washington, D.C. earlier this week—calling his remarks both “disgusting” and entirely “unsurprising.”

Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger, best known for his heroic emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009, made his feelings clear during an appearance on MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell. When asked about Trump’s claim that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies might have played a role in the disaster, the retired pilot did not mince words.

After a tense pause, Sullenberger responded bluntly: “Not surprised.” He then added, “Disgusted.”

Trump, who has increasingly used DEI initiatives as a political punching bag, implied that Biden-era policies led the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to hire underqualified personnel. Without citing any evidence, he suggested that diversity hiring practices “could have been” responsible for the tragedy. He went further, making a baseless claim that the FAA was employing people with “severe mental disabilities.”

Aviation experts and industry leaders immediately pushed back. Former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman Robert Sumwalt dismissed Trump’s assertion as “completely detached from reality.”

“The FAA has one of the most rigorous hiring and training programs in the world,” Sumwalt said in a statement. “Pilots and air traffic controllers go through extensive screening, and safety is always the top priority. Injecting culture war rhetoric into a tragedy like this is irresponsible.”

Sullenberger echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that air safety depends on skill, experience, and rigorous training—not political ideology. “Diversity is not a weakness,” he stated. “Our industry thrives because of talent, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to safety.”

Trump’s remarks mirror his past tactics of exploiting disasters for political gain. He previously used California wildfires to attack Democratic leadership, pushing conspiracy theories about mismanagement rather than addressing the realities of climate change. His latest comments on aviation safety have drawn similar backlash.

Adding to the controversy, Trump scoffed at the idea of visiting the crash site, responding to a reporter’s question with a flippant remark: “The water? You want me to go swimming?”

As investigations into the cause of the crash continue, aviation officials are urging the public to focus on facts rather than inflammatory rhetoric. Meanwhile, voices like Sullenberger’s are ensuring that the conversation remains centered on safety, not political theater.