DC Plane Crash: Helicopter Was 'In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time' Trump Tells TURAN Correspondent

U.S. President Donald Trump held first press conference in the White House briefing room Wednesday morning, hours after an Army helicopter collided with a passenger jet in Washington DC, claiming 67 lives.

"... The helicopter obviously was in the wrong place at the wrong time and a tragedy occurred," Trump told TURAN's Washington correspondent when asked about the military training that the helicopter was involved in.

Trump went on to add that he was unclear on what Hegseth meant by the helicopter being on a "continuity of government" mission.

"You had a pilot problem, from the standpoint of the helicopter. I mean, because it was visual, it was a very clear night. It was cold, but clear and clear as you could be," he said.

According to him, the helicopter "had the ability to go up or down, had the ability to turn."

"You could have gone up, you could have gone down. You could have gone straight up, straight down. You could have turned, you could have done a million different maneuvers," he said.

Speaking about the victims, Trump confirmed media reports that Russian nationals were onboard, saying he had not spoken to Vladimir Putin about the incident.

Two Russian figure skating coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, killed in the crash were two-time Olympians and former world champions in the pairs event, according to media reports.