A Black Hawk helicopter involved in a deadly collision with a passenger jet in Washington was part of a training flight for a crucial U.S. military mission aimed at ensuring government continuity during national crises.
The mission, known as “continuity of government” and “continuity of operations,” prepares the government to function even in the event of a major attack. The training flight was part of a larger exercise to prepare for such emergencies, with the crew undergoing their routine annual re-training of night flights along a designated route.
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The three soldiers killed in the crash were part of the 12th Aviation Battalion, responsible for evacuating Pentagon officials in national emergencies. A total of 64 people perished in the passenger jet involved in the incident.
The accident raises questions about the risks of nighttime flights near busy airspaces, with experts highlighting the critical role of these operations in ensuring U.S. leadership continuity during crises.
The most recent activation of this mission was on September 11, 2001, when the 12th Aviation Battalion helped evacuate senior U.S. officials during the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
