Donald Trump has claimed the deadly Washington air crash could have been caused by the Federal Aviation Administration's diversity policies. In the early hours of Thursday morning, American Airlines Flight 5342 crashed into the Potomac river following a collision with a with a Blackhawk military helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. All 64 passengers and crew on board the passenger aircraft are now thought to have died, along with three personnel on the military helicopter.

In a bizarre press conference held at the White House this afternoon, the US President brought up the FAA's plans to include more disabled people in its workforce. He said: "I do want to point out that various articles that appeared prior to my entering office. And here's one, the FAA's diversity push includes focus on hiring people with severe intellectual and psychiatric disabilities. That is amazing.

"And then it says FAA says people with severe disabilities are most underrepresented segment of the workforce said they want them in, and they want them, they can be air traffic controllers. I don't think so. This was January 14, so that was a week before I entered office. They put a big push to put diversity into the FAA's programme.". He had opened the news conference after the crash with a moment of silence honouring the victims, calling it an "hour of anguish" for the country. But he spent the rest of the half-hour press conference blaming his political opponents, lashing out at the Biden administration and diversity efforts at the Federal Aviation Administration, saying they had led to falling standards - despite acknowledging that the cause of the crash was unknown.

Trump also confirmed all those on board the American Airlines flight and the helicopter had died. Current estimates put the combined number death toll at 67, with 28 bodies confirmed to have been found. At the US Capitol this afternoon, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump's theories on the crash "turns your stomach". He added: "It’s one thing for internet pundits to spew off conspiracy theories, it’s another for the president of the United States.".

The US Figure Skating governing body said today they were "devastated" by the "unspeakable tragedy" after a number of young sportspeople were confirmed among the victims. It included young skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their mothers and coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who were representing the Skating Club of Boston. The skaters were in Wichita for the US Figure Skating Championships, which were held last week at Intrust Bank Arena. Many were heading home or continuing their training at other rinks across the US.