A tragic incident took place in Washington, DC, on the night of Wednesday at 9 p.m. local time (02:00 GMT). An American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet Flight 5342 collided with a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in midair. The flight that met with the plane crash was carrying more than 60 passengers and four crew members on board at the time it collided with the helicopter that had three US Army soldiers on it. The collision took place while Flight 5342 was landing after a long journey from Wichita, Kansas, at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Columbia District.
The Army helicopter UH-60 Black Hawk, which took off from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was said to be engaged in a military training mission in the region when the collision occurred. The collision was just above the Potomac River, approximately one mile from the airport. This collision prompted an emergency response from the airline as well as the government and the Federal Aviation Administration that circulated an order for the grounding of all the remaining flights at the Reagan National Airport.
This plane turned out to be the most fatal plane crash in the US so far, involving more than 60 people. The last US plane crash happened in 2009, killing 49 people when Flight 3407 from New Jersey to Buffalo, New York, crashed.
Plane Crash with Black Hawk Helicopter
The catastrophic incident was witnessed by the people around, who reported that they saw the fierce collision and explosion that followed in midair. The debris from both aircraft fell into the river below. It is said that the air traffic controller had asked the army helicopter less than 30 seconds before the collision if it could see another flight in the air. It was reported that there was no solid response from the Army helicopter, even when the air traffic controller asked, “PAT 25, do you have a CRJ in sight?”
The people traveling in the plane were mostly the US ice skaters, coaches, and others who were returning from the figure skating competition, says the US figure skating governing body. It is said that the former Russian world champion was on board as well.
What are the Black Hawk helicopters?
As soon as the massive collision was seen, it was informed to the government and the related airline and airport. Search and rescue operations are continuously underway to search for the bodies of the individuals involved in the crash. As of now, no one has been discovered in the river, and all more than 60 people and four crew members on the plane are presumed dead.
Various assumptions are being made and discussed about the people killed in the crash and on the government; however, no proper statement from the government has been released to the public even when the rescue and search operations have been going on for so many hours. The cause of the collision is being investigated by government officials to figure out why the crash happened.
Fully named the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, it is the most widely deployed military helicopter in the world, with the US Army being the number one in this. It was developed in the 1970s as a substitute for the UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) helicopter as it was becoming outdated, and the US military needed a strong helicopter.
The Black Hawk was part of the US Army’s Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System program that was initiated in the 1970s. The main objective was to create an air transport vehicle that could perform a variety of functions and is useful in missions like troop transportation, medical aid and evacuation, and cargo transportation of heavily military-related equipment or people and offering durability and better performance than previous helicopters.
Uses of Black Hawk Helicopter for US Army
The Black Hawk made its debut in the US Army in 1979 after it went through rigorous testing and experiments under various criteria. Over the decades, the Black Hawk has gone through various developments and improvements according to the need of the hour. It was renewed from time to time in terms of its combat capability, engine power, etc. Apart from that, the latest versions of the aircraft have also been developed and released in the market, such as the UH-60M and UH-60V, with improved features like digital cockpits, enhanced durability, etc.
The addition of the Black Hawk turned out to be of significant importance and helped improve US military technology as it could operate under different environments, from arid areas to dense wetland forests. The helicopter is equipped with counterattacks against missile threats, jamming systems, dispensers, etc.
The US Army uses Black Hawk helicopters for various purposes. They have been discussed in detail below:
Combat Operations
The United States of America has a global military presence, and the Black Hawk helicopter has been a major instrument that the US army used in wars and conflicts, such as in Iraq and the latest in Afghanistan and other special operations. It can operate in hostile environments to evacuate and insert troops quickly and efficiently.
Medical Evacuation
The HH-60M MEDEVAC Black Hawk variant has been specifically developed for advancing the military’s medical systems. It helps in providing medical assistance in combat areas and missions. It plays a pivotal role in transporting injured soldiers from the battlefield to the base camp for medical aid, increasing the chances of their survival.
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
Besides the combat roles, the Black Hawk has also been used in the UN missions for disaster response missions, providing medical aid and rescuing civilians from the natural disaster and its aftermath. It was used in relief efforts after and during Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Search and rescue (SAR)
The Black Hawk has been designed to suit various purposes. One such purpose is the search and rescue mission assistance for military personnel or civilians. It is capable enough to operate at lower altitudes and can hover for several minutes. These features make a perfect instrument to be deployed in rescue missions and operations.
Economic Impact of the Black Hawk Helicopter
The United States of America is known to be the biggest supplier and producer of military equipment and machinery. The US doesn’t only use the defense machinery but exports it to other countries as well. This exporting business contributes heavily to the US economy not only in terms of capital but in other ways as well, such as:
Employment creation: The Black Hawk provides jobs to hundreds of thousands of people in the aerospace and defense fields. It is employed in manufacturing, assembling, maintenance, etc.
Defense Contracts and Exports: The US government sells its military equipment to its friendly nations to boost its economy and exports. This, in turn, helps the US economy to improve and grow its trade routes and relations with other nations.
Technological advancement: The US government regularly invests in the latest technology, and it is especially true in the case of warfare items. The US is known in the world as the best weapon manufacturer, and it lives up to this title as well. The weapon manufacturing companies are constantly making advancements in the material for more efficient usage, which is why it has developed so many variants of the Black Hawk Helicopter.
Words from officials
Although nothing was formally said in public or statements released, officials had different reactions to the tragic incident that took place.
The US president, Trump, has been furious and publicly questioned on his social media handle, the Truth Social, about the actions of the US army helicopter.
Trump writes, “The Helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period. It is a clear night; the lights on the plane were blazing; why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn?”
He further adds, “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!!!”
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The fire chief, John Donnelly, said he didn’t expect any survivors after the incident. Rescue operations are going on, but he said that it is a highly complex mission.
“Rescue efforts are underway to recover fellow citizens,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.
The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, says, “A mistake was made.”
During the news conference held in the White House, Trump repeatedly blamed the hiring of unqualified air traffic controllers that may have contributed to the case.
The American citizens are not happy about the incident and are more so disappointed at the government for making it a political and a blaming game, refusing to properly inform the public and the family members of the passengers about the passengers’ current status or the finds of the search and rescue operations.
There have not been any official statements released from the government. They say the investigations are “underway.” Moreover, it is being said that the air accident investigation can take months to complete. No one has a real idea of what’s going on about this entire incident. Is the information delay a way for the government to hide the matter under the rug?
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Shubhangi Gupta is a distinguished content writer and the visionary founder of The Unpleasant – Acha Nahi Sabse Sacha. With a Master’s degree in Commerce from University of Lucknow, Shubhangi has seamlessly blended her academic background with her passion for reading and writing, embarking on a successful career as a content writer since 2019.
