The tragic accident that claimed the lives of three Army pilots occurred when their helicopter collided with a passenger airplane near Washington, D.C. They were conducting a training exercise aimed at preparing for the evacuation of top officials in case of a major disaster or significant threat to the U.S. government.

Following the Wednesday night crash between the Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight as it was landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, concerns arose about the helicopter operating in a busy airspace during nighttime hours.

After extensive search operations in the cold waters of the Potomac River for any survivors, officials confirmed that no one survived the incident – 64 passengers on the flight and the three crew members aboard the helicopter were all lost.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth later stated that the UH-60 helicopter’s crew members were engaged in a “routine annual retraining” and had night-vision goggles on board.

According to military sources, the exact cause of the crash will remain unclear until an investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board is completed. Here’s what we currently know about the training mission that ended tragically.

Pilots were preparing for a severe emergency

The training mission was part of the Army’s “continuity of government” preparations, which outlines military responses to severe emergencies affecting the government or national security.

The helicopter’s crew was part of the 12th Aviation Battalion, which has a specialized mission in the D.C. area, as explained by Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff of the Army’s aviation directorate, during a press conference on Thursday.

Should a disaster necessitate activating continuity of government procedures, this brigade would be responsible for evacuating key leaders to safety. To assist in this, the battalion conducts training flights in the area, similar to the mission the downed Black Hawk was undertaking, allowing pilots to familiarize themselves with the surroundings, air traffic, and established evacuation routes, according to Koziol.

Koziol noted that the Army performs these training flights “almost daily” around the clock, stating, “Multiple aircraft conduct these operations every day.”

Concerns raised about the use of night-vision goggles

Hegseth characterized the training session as a necessary “night evaluation,” mentioning that the pilots had night-vision goggles available.

The Army, however, has not confirmed whether the crew members were utilizing the goggles during the incident. Koziol indicated that the goggles would not have been essential; in such a well-lit area as Washington, pilots should easily navigate without them.

“In my three decades of flying experience, I would find that route straightforward to navigate without the use of goggles,” he stated.

Continuity of government established during the Cold War

Continuity of government protocols originated in the Cold War era amid concerns that Russia might attack the United States directly.

After the fall of the second World Trade Center tower on 9/11, President George W. Bush implemented, for the first time, a temporary “shadow government” to ensure continued governance, as reported by a White House information page. Each agency involved has designated representatives that form an “emergency relocation group,” rotating to various locations for stability in times of crisis.