Black Hawk Helicopter in Fatal D.C. Crash was on ‘Training Flight’
Source: A U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter flies along the coast on November 8, 2024, in Laguna Beach, California. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
The U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter involved in Wednesday’s tragic collision with American Airlines Flight 5342 in Washington D.C. was on an “annual proficiency training flight,” according to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in a statement on X. The helicopter took off from Davison Army Airfield at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
The Army describes the helicopter as a “utility tactical transport helicopter.” According to Hegseth, the crew was “fairly experienced” and conducting a night evaluation. The helicopter belonged to the Army’s Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Division. The unit has paused all flights in light of the incident, according to USA Today.
Ron McLendon II, an Army spokesperson, said the Army has joined the investigation into the crash. According to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, there was “nothing unusual” prior to the crash, claiming the both aircraft were following a “standard flight pattern.”
Related: U.S. Figure Skating Team, Their Family Members and Coaches Were Aboard Plane That Crashed in D.C.
At this time, it is unknown why the helicopter crossed into the plane’s flight path as it made its approach to Reagan Washington National Airport. As of Thursday afternoon, only 28 of the 64 victims’ bodies have been recovered. There were 60 passengers on the plane, and three on the helicopter. Both aircrafts’ black boxes have yet to be recovered.
Black Hawk Helicopter in Fatal D.C. Crash was on ‘Training Flight’ was originally published on ronemyhoustonmajic.staging.go.ione.nyc