Trump Offers Insight Into Modern Aviation After Fatal Boeing Crashes

“I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Albert Einstein to be my pilot.”

Al Drago/ZUMA

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.

In the wake of Sunday’s fatal Boeing 737 Max 8 plane crash, President Donald Trump on Tuesday complained that modern aviation has become “far too complex” and called for “great flying professionals” to take precedence over new technology.

“I don’t want Albert Einstein to be my pilot,” Trump tweeted.

The president’s insight into the aviation industry comes as countries around the world—including Britain, China, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Oman—have moved to ground the popular Boeing line after an Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed shortly after taking off on Sunday. It was the second deadly crash for the 737 model in less than five months.

Senators Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have all called on the US to join others in grounding the Boeing model.

Though Trump did not mention Boeing by name in his tweet, the president’s statement appeared to contradict the Federal Aviation Administration, which on Monday deemed the Boeing model safe to fly. “If the FAA identifies an issue that affects safety, the department will take immediate and appropriate action,” Trump’s Transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, told reporters Monday. “I want people to be assured that we take these incidents, these accidents very seriously.”

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. The deadline’s almost here. Please help us reach our $150k membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. The deadline’s almost here. Please help us reach our $150k membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate