'Suspicious' Elon Musk Tweets About Needing a Plane Crash to Change DEI Policy Resurface Following DC Tragedy

In the wake of the deadly midair collision over Washington, DC, past posts from Elon Musk attacking diversity efforts in aviation have taken on a chilling relevance.

One year before the crash, Musk had suggested that only a mass-casualty aviation disaster would force airlines to reverse their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.

"It will take an airplane crashing and killing hundreds of people for them to change this crazy policy of DIE," Musk wrote on X in January 2024, poignantly rearranging the acronym. He later doubled down, questioning whether airlines were prioritizing diversity over safety.

Following the tragic collision between an American Airlines flight and an Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed at least 28 people on January 29, critics are now resurfacing Musk's remarks, calling them reckless and conspiratorial. Civil rights leaders, including the NAACP and the National Urban League, condemned Musk's comments, accusing him of peddling white supremacist rhetoric under the guise of safety concerns.

Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League, called Musk's statements "abhorrent and pathetic," pointing out that his own company, Tesla, is under federal investigation for systemic racism and workplace discrimination.

"The only thing anyone needs to hear from Musk about diversity in the workplace is an apology," Morial told NBC News.

Aviation experts, meanwhile, have debunked Musk's claims, emphasizing that airline safety is at an all-time high and that pilot hiring standards remain rigorous.

"Talent is talent, and pilots being hired today are of the highest quality," Glendon Fraser, a veteran commercial pilot, stated. "I could not identify a pilot who was hired 'as a result of DEI initiatives.'"

Many followers were quick to point out the "suspicious" nature of Musk's tweets, with one writing, "This is not prophetic. It's suspicious." "This is very suspicious. Hope someone was not set up just so the oligarchy can send a message that their fight is justified," another tweeted.

Since the tragic incident, President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders have pointed to DEI as a contributing factor in the crash, though no specific evidence in support of the claim has surfaced. The investigation remains ongoing.