Photo: Alamy
President Trump has appointed a new acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration following the deadly plane crash Wednesday evening near Reagan Washington National Airport.
The crash occurred when a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional passenger jet around 9 p.m. local time.
President Trump has appointed Chris Rocheleau to the role. Rocheleau has worked at the FAA for more than 20 years and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
Rocheleau was sworn in as the deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration on Jan. 21, 2025. He previously worked as the CEO of the National Business Aviation Association. Rocheleau had also served as the FAA’s acting safety chief and held other senior roles within the agency.
The previous administrator of the FAA, Mike Whitaker, left the role when the incoming Trump administration assumed office on Jan. 20. Whitaker was appointed by the Biden administration and assumed office in October 2023.
The Black Hawk helicopter that collided with the American Airlines flight and had three soldiers on board was conducting a training flight, according to the U.S. Army. The search of the Potomac River has been classified as a recovery operation, as all 67 people aboard both aircraft are presumed dead.