The Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a passenger jet in Washington on Wednesday was on a training flight along a route core to a seldom-discussed military mission to evacuate senior officials to safety in the event of an attack on the U.S., officials say.

Diving crews are still searching the icy waters of the Potomac River looking to retrieve the bodies of all the people killed in this week’s plane and helicopter collision. Retired Black Hawk instructor pilot Martin Gottholm discusses the difficulties in flying at night for Black Hawk pilots and questions surrounding the altitudes of the aircrafts at the time.

The Black Hawk military helicopter involved in Wednesday’s midair collision was training to evacuate government officials in the case of a catastrophic event when it crashed into an American Airlines regional passenger plane – creating a catastrophe of its own.

Captain Rebecca M. Lobach, who served as an Army aviation officer since July 2019, had a decorated military career and over 450 hours flight experience.

The military helicopter that collided with an American Airlines flight this week was conducting training to prepare for a catastrophe or attack on the US.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls the deadly aircraft collision involving a Black Hawk and a civilian airliner "a tragedy" in a statement obtained exclusively by Fox News.

As investigators look into the cause of Wednesday night's plane crash, pilots share their initial take on the collision.

Sixty-four people aboard a commercial airliner died Wednesday after it collided with a military helicopter midair near Reagan Washington National Airport. Both the American Eagle jet and Army Black Hawk are in the Potomac River.