Black Hawk chopper unit was on annual proficiency training flight, Hegseth says
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the American people following the tragic collision involving an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter outside Reagan National Airport. Hegseth revealed that the crash occurred during an annual proficiency training flight for the Black Hawk helicopter crew.
“We do know on our side who was involved. It was a fairly experienced crew, and they were conducting a required annual night evaluation,” Hegseth stated in a video statement exclusively obtained by Fox News. “We expect that the investigation will swiftly determine whether the aircraft was at the correct altitude in the right position at the time of the incident.”
Hegseth expressed his condolences, stating, “It’s a tragedy, a terrible loss of life for those 64 individuals on that civilian airliner. And, of course, for the three soldiers aboard the Black Hawk. They are in our thoughts and prayers, along with their families and communities as they receive notification.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a ground stop at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday around 9:00 PM local time after the military helicopter collided with the civilian airplane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.
During a press conference the following morning, DC Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly disclosed that nearly 30 bodies had been recovered from the crash site thus far. Unfortunately, authorities do not anticipate finding any survivors at this point.
“We have retrieved 27 individuals from the plane and one from the helicopter,” Donnelly reported. “Despite all rescue efforts, we have transitioned from a rescue operation to a recovery operation.”
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed gratitude to the first responders for their efforts in the challenging conditions of the \”very frigid\” river throughout the night. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who had just been sworn in hours before the collision, pledged to seek answers on behalf of the victims’ families and the American public. Duffy emphasized that the collision occurred on a clear night and that both aircraft were following standard flight patterns.
“Safety is our top priority. Everyone who travels in American skies expects a safe journey from departure to arrival. Unfortunately, that did not occur last night,” Duffy remarked. He believes that the available evidence suggests the collision could have been “absolutely” prevented.
Former President Donald Trump, in a direct statement on Truth Social, described the crash as “a preventable tragedy.” Vice President JD Vance urged everyone to keep the individuals involved in their thoughts and prayers.
In conclusion, the devastating collision between the American Airlines plane and the Army helicopter has left a deep impact on the nation. The investigation into the incident will continue as authorities work to determine the causes and prevent such tragedies in the future.
