In the wake of the tragic midair collision near Washington D.C., President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

The accident, which occurred on Wednesday night, involved an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, resulting in the loss of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft.

In his message, President Dr. Muizzu expressed profound sympathy to the bereaved families and loved ones of the victims, as well as to the government and people of the United States.

He reaffirmed the solidarity of the Maldivian people with the U.S. during this period of profound grief.

President also took to social media platform X, stating:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the incident as "absolutely preventable," noting that there was no communication breakdown between the American Airlines flight and the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the collision.

Both aircraft were reportedly following standard flight patterns.

The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Recovery efforts are ongoing, with authorities having retrieved the cockpit voice and flight data recorders from the airplane, which are expected to provide critical evidence for the investigation.

This tragedy has deeply affected various communities, including the figure skating world, as several athletes and their families were among the victims