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9:58 AM PT -- After President Trump personally called out Biden Admin Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a press conference about Wednesday night's D.C. flight catastrophe, Buttigieg responded on X, noting some crucial details and prodding the president to "show actual leadership."

Donald Trump says diversity, equity and inclusion hiring "could have been" to blame for the crash that killed 67 people over Washington, D.C. Wednesday ... and, he's placing the blame squarely on Democrats playing politics.

The 47th President of the United States addressed the assembled press corps Thursday morning in the White House's briefing room ... and, while he started with a prepared statement about the tragedy, he quickly went off the rails and started pointing to the FAA's hiring policies as the reason ... even as the incident is still early in its investigation.

As we told you, extremely tense audio reveals air traffic controllers warned the U.S. Army helicopter that fatally crashed into an American Airlines passenger plane moments before the catastrophe.

Extremely tense audio reveals air traffic controllers warned the U.S. Army helicopter that fatally crashed into an American Airlines passenger plane in Washington D.C. Wednesday night moments before the catastrophe.

With escalating urgency, the control tower asks ... "PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?" and instructs the military Black Hawk helicopter to "pass behind" the aircraft. That warning came about 30 seconds before American Airlines Flight 5342 -- a Bombardier CRJ 700 -- collided with the chopper in mid-air near Reagan Washington National Airport.

The collision sent both aircraft crashing into the icy Potomac River ... with no survivors expected. There were 64 people on the American Airlines plane -- including four crew members -- and 3 soldiers were on board the Black Hawk helicopter.

At least 30 bodies have been pulled from the river, and the first responders now say their rescue mission has become a recovery effort.

8:30 AM PT -- A spokesperson for the Washington Wizards tells TMZ Sports they're planning to honor the crash victims with a moment of silence before their game against the Lakers in D.C. later Thursday.

D.C.-area sports teams are sending their thoughts and prayers to the dozens of people who are believed to have lost their lives in a midair plane crash Wednesday night.

The Nationals said in a statement they were "devastated" by the fatal collision that occurred when a Black Hawk helicopter seemed to fly into an American Airlines jet just above the Potomac River.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones," the MLB org. wrote.

President Donald Trump is weighing in on Wednesday night's fatal midair plane crash, blaming the helicopter pilot for the tragedy in which officials fear there's no survivors.

DT hopped on his Truth Social platform after the American Airlines flight collided with the Black Hawk helicopter, putting the onus for it all on the operator of the chopper.

47 wrote, "The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn."

8:53 AM PT -- Kyle Salewski, who took the video, tells TMZ ... he was in town for the inauguration and took the video because he was shocked -- but not concerned -- how close the choppers were to his plane. He didn't think much of it afterward, until he saw the crash news this morning -- and was compelled to share his experience.

Tons of people are searching for a reason behind the plane crash in Washington, D.C. that has claimed dozens of lives ... and, new video shows just how close helicopters fly to commercial planes.

A user on X posted a clip late Wednesday night ... sharing a video he says he took six days ago -- showing two helicopters flying to the left of an airplane as it takes off from a runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Horrifying stories are beginning to trickle out following the midair collision of an American Airlines flight with an Army Black Hawk helicopter ... one man says his passenger wife texted him she was about to land before their conversation was suddenly cut short.

During an interview with WUSA, Hamaad Raza told a reporter he was praying that authorities would pull his wife's body out of frigid waters near Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C. after the Wednesday night crash.

The AA flight — carrying 64 souls -- was flying from Wichita, Kansas to D.C. when it collided with the helicopter, which was on a training flight with 3 soldiers aboard.

U.S. Figure Skating team members, former world champions, coaches and more are tragically among the passengers onboard the American Airlines plane that collided with the U.S. Army helicopter in Washington D.C.

Members of the U.S. Figure Skating community were returning from Wichita, Kansas, where they were participating in a development camp that followed the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

U.S. Figure Skating did not identify any team members and said in a statement, "We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families close in our hearts."

A wild shootout between a Michigan homeowner and armed intruders ended with three people injured by gunfire -- and the violence was all caught on video.

The drama unfolded last weekend at the Dearborn Heights home of Benjamin Nevers as he was sleeping in bed with his girlfriend -- and two suspects broke in through a kitchen window, according to Fox 2 Detroit.

Nevers reportedly woke up and saw the suspects on a security camera walking around the house, while his buddy was resting in the living room.

A passenger plane with almost 200 people onboard caught fire as it was set to depart from an airport in South Korea ... and the inferno is on video.

The blaze destroyed an Air Busan plane at Gimhae International Airport in Busan ... and miraculously all 169 passengers and 7 crew members escaped on the jumbo jet's evacuation slides. Only a few folks suffered minor injuries.

Dramatic video shows the Airbus A321 engulfed in flames on the tarmac Tuesday night, with firefighters trying to douse the blaze as smoke billows from the fuselage.

Wildfires continue to rampage across L.A. County ... but now, there's a new one-of-a-kind piece of technology created to extinguish dangerous flames with opposing force.

Steve Wolf, a former film special effects coordinator and founder of Team Wildfire, tells TMZ ... he and his team have developed a jet engine-powered vehicle designed to fight wildfires, and it's now ready to be deployed.

Dubbed "The StormCell," the unique machine is built to push back against the heavy winds that actively push the spread of wildfires ... by using powerful jet engines to counterattack with even higher force wind.

A terrifying moment was captured on video during Wednesday's deadly Tennessee school shooting — as gunfire erupted with people ducking for cover just before the assailant killed himself.

Check it out ... a witness filming the chaotic scene with a cell phone camera crouched behind the cashier's station inside the cafeteria at Antioch High School in Nashville.

Two loud gunshots can be heard as students and school personnel order everyone to "move." After the second shot, someone screams, "He shot himself!"

Bryan Kohberger's not in court for his first hearing of 2025 ... 'cause the judge decided to excuse him for Wednesday's proceedings.

Attorneys for the alleged murderer appeared before the judge for the first time in 2025, attempting to get a large swath of DNA evidence connected to his family tossed by a judge.

The appearance is streaming live ... but, the courtroom itself is closed to the public because the judge wants the ability to seal proceedings. The case has been conducted mostly in secrecy while the court tries to ensure Kohberger receives a fair trial.

Kid Rock is taking advantage of all the attention he's getting during President Donald Trump's resurgence to the highest office in the land ... even hitting on a TV interviewer, sight unseen.

KR -- real name Robert Ritchie -- performed at a pre-inauguration rally at Capital One Arena Sunday, and was interviewed Monday morning by BBC News reporter Caitríona Perry ... and he quickly flustered her with an awkward offer.

Appearing on camera in a black stocking cap and large black sunglasses, he apparently could only hear the reporter's questions.

Donald Trump is set to take the oath of office and become the 47th President of the United States.

Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, rode with President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden from the White House to the U.S. Capitol Building Monday morning ... where both DJT and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance will be sworn into office in the Capitol Rotunda.

Trump and Biden met on the White House steps earlier, shortly after Trump attended a church service at St. John's Church in Washington, D.C., accompanied by family members.

A British man has admitted to murdering 3 girls and trying to kill 10 others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the UK last year.

18-year-old Axel Rudakubana shocked the court on day one of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court Monday by pleading guilty to murdering Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6. He’s facing life behind bars when he's sentenced Thursday.

Axel, who was 17 at the time of the attack, also pled guilty to 10 counts of attempted murder and charges for having ricin and an Al-Qaeda manual linked to the July 29 attack in Southport, UK, last year.

A large number of people were injured -- some severely -- when a ski lift collapsed at a resort in Spain on Saturday, videos of the aftermath show.

Of the dozens hurt, at least nine people reportedly suffered serious injuries ... while dozens more were trapped on the damaged chairlift at the resort in the Spanish region of Aragon.

Shortly after local reports were out ... several videos were shared via social media showing the injured strewn about the slop among what appeared to be scattered poles and ski boots ... while emergency crews tried to make their way to them.