The helicopter unit involved in the tragic crash was part of a secretive mission designed to keep the U.S. government operational during a national crisis.
Black Hawk on a Critical Mission
The continuity of government program ensures that top U.S. officials can be swiftly evacuated in case of an attack or national emergency. On Wednesday, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a passenger jet over Washington, killing three soldiers and 64 people aboard the commercial plane. Officials revealed that the Black Hawk was conducting a routine night training flight along a route central to this mission.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the flight was part of an annual re-training exercise for the 12th Aviation Battalion, based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. This elite unit is responsible for transporting Pentagon officials during national emergencies.
Night Flight Along a Strategic Route
The Black Hawk crew was flying along the Potomac River on a designated path known as Route 4. Pilots were using night vision goggles, a standard procedure for missions that could take place under emergency conditions. The Army now faces scrutiny for operating military aircraft at night near a busy airport, but officials stress the importance of these exercises.
Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for the Army’s Aviation Directorate, emphasized the battalion’s role in national security.
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A Program Activated on 9/11
The last confirmed use of the continuity of government program was on September 11, 2001. After the terrorist attacks, Black Hawk helicopters from the 12th Aviation Battalion transported key officials out of Washington to secure locations known as “hide sites.”
Bradley Bowman, a former Army aviation officer, was part of those operations. That night, he piloted a Black Hawk to retrieve then-Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz from one of these sites and return him to the Pentagon. However, the Pentagon’s helicopter pad had been destroyed. “We just repositioned and landed in the traffic circle of I-395, which had already been closed,” Bowman recalled.
Secretive Doomsday Bunkers
One of the secure locations used during emergencies is Raven Rock Mountain Complex, also known as Site R. Located near Camp David, this underground bunker is one of three main backup facilities for the U.S. government. Author Garrett Graff, who has written about the site, stated, “It’s 100 percent operational today. A team of about 100 personnel inside Raven Rock is always ready to keep the U.S. government running if disaster strikes.”
The recent crash highlights the risks military pilots take while preparing for high-stakes missions. While tragic, these training exercises are vital to ensuring national security in the event of a crisis.
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