Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon is investigating Wednesday's deadly mid-air crash between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter.
The crash occurred when the helicopter apparently flew in the path of the jet as it was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., officials said. More than 60 people are presumed dead in the crash, officials said.
The helicopter crew was experienced and was wearing night vision googles, Hegseth said. The identities of the crew are pending next of kin notification, he said.
After the crash, the 12th Aviation Battalion was granted a 48-hour operational pause on contingency missions. An investigation team was deployed to Washington, Hegseth said.
Hegseth said the investigation will quickly determine if the helicopter was flying at the right corridor and altitude.
Crews were still searching for other casualties but did not believe there were any survivors, which would make it the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly 24 years.
The Army helicopter was a UH-60 assigned to the U.S. Army Aviation Brigade out of Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir in Virginia, Hegseth said. It was embarking on its annual proficiency training flight, Hegseth said.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out," to the families and communities of those impacted, Hegseth said. "We are actively investigating to find out what happened and why."
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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