Chesley Sullenberger, otherwise known as Captain Sully, has given a blunt response to President Donald Trump following his comments about the recent plane crash.

On January 29, American Airlines flight 5342 tragically collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington D.C.

Sadly, all 64 people onboard the plane and three on the helicopter were declared dead.

An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter. Credit: Handout / Getty

As officials investigate what could have caused the fatal incident, Trump wasted no time in giving his verdict.

As reported by BBC News, President Donald Trump has implied that the hiring process of the Federal Aviation Administration could have led to the tragedy.

He has repeatedly lashed out at “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programs in federal departments.

There is no evidence to support his claims.

When asked about Trump’s remarks during an interview with MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, Sullenberger paused for several seconds before responding.

“Not surprised. Disgusted,” he said.

Sullenberger, who successfully landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, saving all 155 passengers and crew aboard, has been an outspoken critic of the former president.

President Donald Trump addressed the nation after the tragic plane crash. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Reflecting on the recent tragedy, Sullenberger told O’Donnell he was “immediately devastated” upon hearing the news of the D.C. crash.

“It hit me deeply, intensely. The loss of those lives, those precious lives,” he said.

Sullenberger acknowledged the anguish of the victims’ families, adding: “I can imagine the families of those who are lost and the grief they must feel, and they’re looking for some reason, some explanation that has yet, is not available to us, one day will be.”

He commended the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as the “gold standard” for accident investigations and emphasized the complexity of such probes.

“It’s a long process,” he said, noting that the final report on the 2009 Hudson River landing took 16 months to complete.

Sullenberger detailed the investigative procedures, which may involve analyzing cockpit voice recordings, flight data, and extensive detective work.

“But they will follow the truth, they will follow the facts wherever they lead,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the NTSB’s findings would be made public and that the aviation industry would take necessary steps to learn from the tragedy.

“And as we always do after such a tragedy, the entire industry will learn these terrible lessons that we learned at great cost,” he added.

Sullenberger is a critic of Trump. Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty

In a 2018 op-ed for The Washington Post, Sullenberger revealed that he had been a registered Republican for most of his life but emphasized that he had “always voted as an American.”

He later endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race and appeared in campaign ads condemning Trump’s leadership.

“Now it’s up to us to overcome his attacks on our very democracy, knowing nearly a quarter million Americans won’t have a voice, casualties of his lethal lies and incompetence,” Sullenberger said in a 2020 advertisement for VoteVets and The Lincoln Project.

Under the Biden administration, he served as the U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The White House has confirmed what Elon Musk will actually be doing in Donald Trump’s government.

It’s safe to say that Trump’s first few weeks back in the Oval Office have been anything but quiet.

Trump was sworn in as president in January. Credit: Pool / Getty

He’s had a tragedy to deal with, as 67 people lost their lives in a plane crash, and he also appears to have started a trade war with Canada and Mexico.

However, the tariffs he wanted to impose on the countries have been put on pause for 30 days as negotiations continue, per Sky News.

As he is still in the early days of his second term, Trump has been sorting out his government, and that includes his new friend Elon Musk.

The billionaire entrepreneur, known as the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has reportedly gained significant influence within the administration.

His position has granted him access to sensitive databases and the authority to restructure departments, with the goal of reducing government spending.

Elon Musk has a role in Trump’s government. Credit: Jared Siskin / Getty

Despite public scrutiny, the White House has offered a vague definition of Musk’s role, describing him as a “special government employee.”

The designation carries unique privileges, raising questions about the extent of Musk’s power within the administration.

According to AP News, the title of special government employee subjects Musk to less stringent ethics and financial disclosure regulations compared to other federal officials.

Additionally, President Trump has allocated Musk office space within the White House complex to oversee operations at the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

This temporary organization, led by Musk, was established without congressional approval.

Amid concerns about potential conflicts of interest, President Trump has defended Musk’s appointment, assuring the public of oversight measures.

“Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval,” Trump stated.

Trump has assigned Musk a role in his administration. Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty

“Where we think there’s a conflict or there’s a problem, we won’t let him go near it, but he has some very good ideas,” he added.

Musk’s involvement in the administration has been viewed by some as a reward for his support during Trump’s presidential campaign.

The tech mogul backed Trump against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, contributing approximately $250 million through America PAC, a super political action committee he founded.

Musk got off to a shaky start with his new government role, as some believed that he performed a fascist salute during the inauguration.

Elon Musk has been accused of doing a Nazi salute at Trump’s inauguration. Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty

During the festivities, Musk delivered a speech about humanity’s future on Mars.

At one point, he struck his chest and raised his right arm upward at an angle, stating: “I feel it in my heart.” He repeated the motion while facing an American flag, sparking enthusiastic cheers from the audience.

“My heart goes out to you,” Musk declared. “It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured. Thanks to you. We’re gonna have safe cities, finally safe cities. Secure borders, sensible spending. Basic stuff. And we’re gonna take ‘Doge’ to Mars.”

Musk has been in hot water. Credit: Christopher Furlong / Getty

Despite Musk’s supporters arguing that the billionaire’s gesture represented him giving his heart to the American people, critics quickly drew comparisons between Musk’s action and the infamous Nazi salute.

Musk addressed the criticism directly on X, dismissing the accusations.

“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is so tired,” he wrote, referring to what he has previously described as a “dirty tricks campaign” against him after distancing himself from the Democratic Party.

Nearly a week after a devastating mid-air collision over the Potomac River, recovery crews have successfully retrieved all 67 victims from the wreckage, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The deadly crash – which involved an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter – remains under investigation as authorities work to determine how the two aircraft ended up on a collision course.

Final Victims Recovered, Focus Shifts to Wreckage Removal

The tragic incident involved a Bombardier CRJ700 jet operating as American Airlines Flight 5342 and a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter conducting a training mission, per CNN.

With all victims now recovered, attention turns to clearing the remaining debris from the river — an operation that has been slow and painstaking due to the challenging winter conditions.

Cranes continue to work on wreckage removal on the Potomac River. Credit: Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images

On Tuesday morning, recovery teams hoisted more pieces of the downed jet from the water, including a section of its fuselage, which was seen lying sideways on a barge with its cabin windows clearly visible.

Later in the afternoon, the aircraft’s tail — adorned with American Airlines’ recognizable red, white, and blue livery — was removed from the river.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 66 of the 67 victims had been identified.

Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has delayed its planned public briefing on the crash for a second consecutive day, citing the need for further verification of data from the Black Hawk’s flight data recorder.

“NTSB needs additional information to verify data points from the Black Hawk,” the agency posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding that a written update would be provided later in the day.

Difficult Recovery Conditions Hamper Operations

Recovering the wreckage from the Potomac has been a grueling effort, made more challenging by the freezing winter temperatures and the mangled state of the aircraft remains.

Cranes have started removing parts of the wreckage from the Potomac River. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Divers equipped with specialized hydraulic tools have been working to access submerged portions of the jet’s fuselage. However, the complexity of the wreckage has necessitated the use of larger salvage equipment to remove heavier debris.

The recovery effort has involved nearly every dive team in the region, including units from the US Coast Guard, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, DC Fire, and the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Dean Naujoks, a riverkeeper with the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, was given access to the crash site to assist investigators in searching for debris. Speaking with CNN affiliate WRAL, Naujoks described the scene, saying: “I recovered a window panel, a seat, insulation, an airplane manual, and a bag of sugar packets.

“Everything was covered in jet fuel.”

“It was just the saddest day I’ve ever been on the river,” he added. “My heart goes out to all the families of the victims.”

A wing from American Airlines flight 5342 is removed. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Key Findings from Flight Data Recorders

Investigators are now turning their attention to the data recovered from both aircraft’s flight recorders in hopes of determining what went wrong.

Preliminary analysis of American Airlines Flight 5342’s flight data recorder indicates that the aircraft’s nose pitched slightly upward just before impact – suggesting that 34-year-old Captain Jonathan Campos and his 28-year-old co-pilot First Officer Samuel Lilley may have attempted to avoid the impeding danger.

“At one point very close to the impact, there was a slight change in pitch, an increase in pitch,” NTSB member Todd Inman said in a press conference on Saturday evening.

The plane’s data shows it was flying at an altitude of roughly 325 feet at the time of the collision. Meanwhile, air traffic control records suggest the Black Hawk helicopter was supposed to maintain a maximum altitude of 200 feet.

Recovery efforts have been impacted by the harsh winter weather. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Radar data retrieved from the airport control tower revealed that the helicopter was at 300 feet just before the crash — well above its designated flight corridor. The NTSB’s investigative update, released Tuesday, confirms this discrepancy.

Weather Expected to Complicate Recovery Efforts

As recovery teams continue their work, they now face another hurdle: an incoming winter storm. By Wednesday, Washington, DC, is expected to see a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain — worsening the already treacherous conditions for salvage crews.

Despite these challenges, aviation experts believe investigators will eventually have a clear picture of what caused the disaster.

“We have radar data, we have eyewitnesses, and we have all the wreckage,” Steven Wallace, former director of the FAA’s Office of Accident Investigation, told CNN. “There’s nothing missing.”

For now, recovery teams remain focused on clearing the wreckage and providing answers to the grieving families who lost loved ones in what is now the deadliest aviation disaster in a generation.

As a tribute to those lost in the crash, American Airlines will hold a moment of silence on Wednesday, marking one week since the fatal accident.