(NewsNation) — The Black Hawk military helicopter that was involved in the midair collision with an American Airlines regional jet is known as a proven workhorse in the U.S. Army’s fleet of aircraft.
The helicopter has been used by the military for more than 40 years after it entered service in 1979, according to the U.S. Army. The aircraft was first developed, the Army said, as a requirement made by the Army that simple, robust and reliable utility helicopters be available.
The Black Hawk is named after the Native American war chief and leader of the Sauk tribe in the Midwest. The aircraft includes powerful twin engines, a reconfigurable cabin and 9,000 pounds of cargo capacity, according to the Lockheed Martin website.
The company’s description of the helicopter indicates it can be used to transport troops, deliver supplies and fly search-and-rescue missions. Lockheed Martin says that the Black Hawk helicopter has flown more than 15 million flight hours and has completed countless critical missions across the globe. Lockheed subsidiary Sikorsky manufactures the Black Hawk.
The utility version of the Black Hawk helicopter has a maximum gross weight of 22,000 pounds and is capable of transporting 12 fully equipped seated troops in combat, the manufacturer said.
Officials said that the helicopter was involved in an annual proficiency training flight when the collision took place Wednesday night. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter at the time of the crash and were included among the 67 people who are presumed dead.
Pete Hegseth, the newly confirmed U.S. defense secretary, said in a video statement Thursday that the crew aboard the Black Hawk at the time of the collision was “fairly experienced” with night-vision goggles. President Donald Trump, however, questioned the helicopter’s pilot along with air traffic control workers at Reagan Airport for their roles in the crash.
The helicopter was featured in the 2001 major motion picture “Black Hawk Down,” which is based on the book with the same title that detailed the United States’ actions during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu.