Pete Hegseth Reveals More Info On Army Helicopter Involved In Deadly Plane Crash

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Thursday morning that a “fairly experienced” crew was on the Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines flight near Washington, D.C., Wednesday night before both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River.

Sixty-four people, including passengers and crew, were on board American Airlines Flight 5342, a regional jet that was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when it collided with the military helicopter. Authorities said Thursday morning that they believe no one survived the crash and have switched rescue efforts to recovery efforts. Responders have recovered at least 28 bodies from the Potomac River.

Hegseth said the three soldiers on the Black Hawk helicopter were conducting an “annual proficiency training flight” and were wearing night-vision goggles.

“The Army unit involved was Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, at Fort Belvoir,” Hegseth said. “It was an annual proficiency training flight, and when we look at the crew, not all kin have been notified, so we’re going to withhold ranks and names at this point. We do know, on our side, who was involved.”

The Department of Defense has deployed an investigation team to look into the crash, according to Hegseth, who said investigators will come up with answers “quickly.”

“We anticipate that the investigation will be able to quickly determine whether the aircraft was in the corridor and at the right altitude at the time of the incident,” he said, adding, “It’s a tragedy. A horrible loss of life for those sixty-four souls on that civilian airliner, and of course the three soldiers in that Black Hawk. They’re in our prayers.”

Update on Guantanamo Bay Operations and @SecDef Hegseth Addresses Tragic Mishap Involving US Army Helicopter pic.twitter.com/80J5djB4oP

— Department of Defense ???????? (@DeptofDefense) January 30, 2025

The Reagan Washington National Airport and surrounding area have some of the busiest air traffic in the country as military and government helicopters often fly near inbound and outbound commercial flights. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said Thursday morning that the crash was “absolutely” preventable.

Duffy’s comments came after President Donald Trump addressed the crash in a late-night Truth Social post, writing, “The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”

Wednesday’s deadly crash marked the first major commercial airline crash in the U.S. since 2009, when a Colgan Air flight crashed as it was landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. All 49 people aboard that plane were killed.

Leif Le Mahieu contributed to this report.