Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA) faced backlash for inserting himself into the narrative surrounding a tragic mid-air collision near Washington D.C. Reagan National Airport (DCA) late Wednesday evening.
An American Airlines flight carrying approximately 64 passengers collided with a Blackhawk helicopter over the Potomac River. The impact resulted in a fiery explosion that was caught on a Kennedy Center webcam. Officials later confirmed that all 67 individuals aboard the two aircraft perished in the collision.
Despite the gravity of the disaster, Swalwell took to social media to highlight his own proximity to the incident. “I landed at DCA this evening at 8:42pm, IAH—DCA, minutes before an in-flight collision over the airport,” Swalwell posted. “My thoughts are with all involved and their families. Hoping first responders find survivors.”
His remarks were met with widespread criticism from users who accused him of narcissism and making the tragedy about himself. Many pointed out that his safe landing was irrelevant to the devastation that followed.
“I don’t care if you landed there or not, Eric. Not about you,” one user tweeted.
Another user wrote, “Of course. Make this about you. Typical.” Others simply dismissed his comments, with one tweet stating, “No one cares.”
Critics argued that rather than focusing on the victims and their families, Swalwell sought to draw attention to his own experience. Some social media users called his statement tone-deaf, especially given the scale of the loss and the grief faced by the victims’ loved ones.
In the wake of the backlash, Swalwell has not issued any further statements clarifying or apologizing for his remarks. Meanwhile, investigators are working to determine the cause of the tragic mid-air collision and provide answers to grieving families.
