The military helicopter involved in a fatal collision with a regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was a UH-60 Black Hawk, known as the “workhorse” of Army aviation. Introduced in 1979, the Black Hawk is considered safe and reliable, with a strong track record in combat and transport missions. It is a utility tactical transport aircraft used for various operations around the world. Sikorsky has built over 5,000 Black Hawks for 36 countries, and the Army plans to use them for the next three decades.
The collision occurred during a training mission conducted by Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion from Fort Belvoir. The crew, described as experienced, was undergoing a routine annual evaluation to fly at night. The cause of the collision is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The crash is reminiscent of a previous incident in which two Black Hawk helicopters collided during a training exercise, resulting in the deaths of nine soldiers. The Army grounded all aviation except critical missions following the incident to prevent further accidents. Despite the high number of fatalities in training incidents involving Black Hawks over the past decade, they have the fewest deadly incidents relative to hours flown compared to other helicopters in the Army’s fleet.
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