Washington plane crash: Army helicopter crew was experienced, had night vision goggles, Pentagon says

The three soldiers aboard the US Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines passenger plane on Wednesday were fairly experienced, had night vision goggles and were carrying out an annual training mission at the time of the incident, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a video message, said a special team of investigators were already on the ground and that he expected answers shortly about whether the helicopter was flying in its assigned air corridor and at the right altitude at the time of the collision near Reagan Washington National Airport.

He confirmed that the Army unit involved was on a 48-hour operational pause. The pause was first reported by Reuters.