Flight Attendants Leader Rips Trump’s ‘Mindless’ Claim Planes ‘Becoming Far Too Complex To Fly’

President Trump weighed in Tuesday on the crashes of a new Boeing jet model by claiming that “airplanes are becoming far too complex to fly” and he wouldn’t “want Albert Einstein to be” his pilot.

In a tweet two days after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet made by Boeing, the second such accident in five months, Trump tweeted that “pilots are no longer needed, but rather computer scientists from MIT.”

“I see it all the time in many products,” he added. “Always seeking to go one unnecessary step further, when often old and simpler is far better.”

“Split second decisions are needed, and the complexity creates danger,” he continued. “All of this for great cost yet very little gain. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Albert Einstein to be my pilot. I want great flying professionals that are allowed to easily and quickly take control of a plane!”

Airplanes are becoming far too complex to fly. Pilots are no longer needed, but rather computer scientists from MIT. I see it all the time in many products. Always seeking to go one unnecessary step further, when often old and simpler is far better. Split second decisions are….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2019

….needed, and the complexity creates danger. All of this for great cost yet very little gain. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Albert Einstein to be my pilot. I want great flying professionals that are allowed to easily and quickly take control of a plane!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2019

The cause of the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 passengers on Sunday has yet to be determined.

Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, responded pushed back against Trump’s claims on Tuesday, arguing that technology has made aviation safer through collaboration between manufacturers and crews.

Nelson added that “mindless blurbs” from “someone who should know better don’t help.”

Aviation safety and security is our number one priority and mindless blurbs on Twitter from someone who should know better don’t help. Vigilance, training, collaboration . . . that’s what helps.

— Sara Nelson (@FlyingWithSara) March 12, 2019