(The Hill) -- President Donald Trump weighed successful connected the Wednesday evening crash betwixt an American Airlines level and subject chopper successful Washington, claiming it “should person been prevented.”

“The airplane was connected a cleanable and regular enactment of attack to the airport," helium wrote connected Truth Social. "The chopper was going consecutive astatine the airplane for an extended play of time."

"It is simply a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights connected the level were blazing, wherefore didn’t the chopper spell up oregon down, oregon turn. Why didn’t the power operation archer the chopper what to bash alternatively of asking if they saw the plane," helium continued. "This is simply a atrocious concern that looks similar it should person been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!!"

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy echoed the sentiment during a property league Thursday morning.

“We are going to hold for each the accusation to travel successful from, from this vantage point, but to backmost up what the president said, what I’ve seen truthful far, bash I deliberation this was preventable? Absolutely,” helium said.

Duffy besides confirmed that some craft had been located, and a national probe was underway.

Their remarks travel aft a determination pitchy carrying 60 passengers and 4 unit collided with a subject helicopter, which was connected a grooming mission, conscionable earlier landing astatine Ronald Reagan National Airport connected Wednesday evening. American Airlines said the formation was en way from Wichita, Kansas.

The 2 craft crashed mid-air arsenic the level was descending to the runway astir 9 p.m. section time, according to officials.

About 300 exigency responders conducted a multi-agency search-and-rescue operation. Authorities confirmed that some craft were successful the Potomac River and rescue operations are underway.

Officials said during Thursday's presser that nary survivors were expected, but astir 30 bodies person been recovered truthful far. None of the clang victims person been identified truthful far.

Trump, successful his late-night post, besides echoed the interest that galore expressed aft the disaster.

“What a unspeakable nighttime this has been. God bless you all!” he wrote connected Truth Social.