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'We're the gold standard': GOP lawmaker calls for congressional hearing over DC plane crash
EXCLUSIVE: The top Republican on the House Transportation Committee’s subcommittee on aviation is calling for a congressional hearing into the deadly collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C.
“We say we are the gold standard, we just need to continue to maintain that level,” Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, who chairs the subcommittee, told Fox News Digital in an interview.
“I just want to sit down with all of them and, when the [National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)] does its report – make sure that it’s very accurate, it’s factual, and that they come up with some recommendations – and then we’ll have to see if we need to change direction or change course based upon those recommendations. But we don’t know yet.”
Nehls praised Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves, noting his background as a pilot, and said he would be asking the Missouri Republican to convene meetings with the affected parties and those investigating the incident. Nehls suggested potential closed-door meetings to enable more candid discussions but said a public hearing would also be in order.
DC PLANE CRASH INVESTIGATORS TO REVIEW COMMUNICATION BETWEEN 2 AIRCRAFT: SENATOR
Rep. Troy Nehls, aviation subcommittee chair, is monitoring the situation after an American Airlines plane collided with a military helicopter over the Potomac River. (Getty Images)
“We have to find out the reason for the crash and then come up with, you know, recommendations to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said. “We don’t need to be sitting on this. I don’t want to hear, ‘It’s going to take 18 months.’ I don’t want to hear that.”
And it appears federal investigators are on that same page.
NTSB officials said they hope to have a preliminary report out in about 30 days.
“I think that would be fair,” Nehls said. “But that shouldn’t stop Congress looking into this and doing what we can to help. I think President Trump… expects it, and he has a right to expect it from us, to make sure that we keep our aviation industry the standard for the world.”
And while he is hoping for quick results, Nehls emphatically cautioned against any early speculation about who or what is to blame for the tragedy.
RECOVERY EFFORTS UNDERWAY AFTER AMERICAN AIRLINES JET, MILITARY HELICOPTER COLLIDE MIDAIR NEAR DC
FBI agents stand near debris after American Eagle Flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 30, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
“Everybody wants to speculate as to how did this happen, why this happened. Whose fault is that? Is it the helicopter? Was it the airplane?” Nehls said.
“I think that is irresponsible. I think you just need to give it time for the NTSB to investigate, you know, conduct a very thorough investigation.”
Finger-pointing and speculation have already run rampant, however. Some have blamed Congress for authorizing too many new airline contracts at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which is closer to the U.S. Capitol than the much larger Washington-Dulles International Airport.
Others, primarily on the right, have argued that diversity initiatives by Democratic administrations helped lead to the tragedy.
“I think it’s too early for all of that,” Nehls said when asked about both.
No evidence has come out to support any conclusion or cause of the crash so far.
Crews retrieve wreckage of American Airlines Flight 5342 in the Potomac River. (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)
Nehls spoke with Fox News Digital the day after a Black Hawk helicopter carrying three service members crashed into a passenger plane heading from Wichita, Kansas, which was moments away from landing at Reagan National Airport.
Both aircraft were seen plummeting into the Potomac River between Washington and neighboring Arlington, Virginia, where the airport is located.
U.S. officials have said there are no survivors, and recovery efforts are still underway.
Fox News Digital reached out to the House Transportation Committee for comment.
American Airlines has said 60 passengers and four crew members were aboard the plane, and the airline encouraged any loved ones looking for information to call the numbers on its site.
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Funeral Mass for Delia “Dee” Sianghio, 91, of Dickinson, will be 10:00 am, Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Father Ryan Martire celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery.
Visitation for Dee will be 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Monday, June 22, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson, with rosary and vigil taking place at 6:00 pm. Dee passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at her home. Delia was born on September 5, 1934 in Zambales, Philippines to Dr. Aqualino and Solita (Ortin) Edaño. The eldest of 5 children, Delia graduated college in 1958 from University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. Delia met Dr. Gregorio L. Sianghio and married in 1960, having 3 children, Leyden, Homer and Lourdes. The family embarked on a great adventure and emigrated to the United States in 1971, ultimately settling in Dickinson, ND, where Dr. Gregorio practiced in Anesthesiology at St. Joseph Hospital. Much to Delia’s dismay, she experienced extreme cold, blizzards, and having to travel to West Fargo, ND for authentic Philippine ingredients for traditional food. Delia was an avid reader, history buff, and enjoyed crocheting and knitting. After her husband died in 1985, she became an active volunteer at St. Luke’s Nursing Home in Dickinson and enjoyed exercising to step-aerobics. Delia is survived by daughter Dr. Leyden Sianghio-Reamer (Joe Reamer), Boerne, TX; son Homer Siañghio (Cindy M. Steiner-Siañghio), Kent, WA; and daughter Lourdes E. Sianghio, TX/ND; 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Delia is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Aqualino and Solita Edaño of Zambales, Philippines; husband Dr. Gregorio Sianghio of Dickinson, ND; sisters Aqualina and Susan; and brothers Aqualino Jr. and Lino, all from Zambales, Philippines. Remembrances and condolences can be shared at www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.
Meta data centers in New Albany to be among world’s largest
Meta data centers in New Albany to be among world’s largest
Ohioans won’t be voting on whether to ban data centers on the November ballot.
Conserve Ohio, the group working to block most data centers, announced that it would not submit the more than 413,000 signatures needed to make the fall ballot by the July 1 deadline.
But the data center opponents aren’t giving up on a constitutional amendment. They are now targeting the 2027 ballot.
“We want to make it clear: we will not be stopping. Construction won’t be stopping, so signature gathering and community action will not be stopping,” according to a Conserve Ohio statement.
The group’s decision comes after Ohio lawmakers failed to pass legislation to rein in data centers before a months-long break. Lawmakers disagreed on whether to reduce tax breaks for data centers or eliminate them entirely.
The debate over data centers in Ohio has created strange political bedfellows. Environmentalists and rural voters often oppose them, while business groups and labor unions are backing them.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@gannett.com or @jbalmert on X.
At the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation’s 13th annual Prime Time Gala on Saturday, June 20, 2026, the point of the evening was never far from view: beef, music, scholarships and fundraising all tied back to getting high-quality protein to South Dakotans who need it.
Held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center and Denny Sanford PREMIER Center complex, the Prime Time Gala again brought together cattle producers, agricultural businesses, community supporters and Feeding South Dakota for an upscale dinner, auction program and country concert. The evening opened with a prayer from Ray Larson before moving into the program, awards and live auction.
“Success boils down to one thing, and that’s to all of you who are with us tonight,” foundation leadership told the crowd, framing the event as a collective effort by ranchers, cattle feeders, donors, volunteers and businesses across the state.
Viewpoints
VIEWPOINT | Don’t blame voters for lack of trust in South Dakota politics: Look in mirror
Too much of today’s political conversation revolves around personalities, endorsements and internal political scorekeeping. We argue about who is conservative enough, who is endorsed by the right people, who is supported by the right organizations and who belongs to the right political tribe. While politicians and activists debate those questions, many ordinary voters are simply asking who is focused on solving problems and improving their communities.
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