The UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter, involved in a recent collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft, is a versatile and reliable aircraft used for a variety of missions by the Army. First introduced in 1979, the Black Hawk has a strong track record for safety and survivability in combat and transport operations, with over 5,000 helicopters built for 36 countries by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed-Martin. The Army considers the Black Hawk a key part of its fleet for the next three decades.
The Black Hawk involved in the collision was on a training mission with a highly experienced crew. The cause of the collision is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, with some experts speculating that a lack of crew members scanning for potential dangers may have played a role in the accident. This incident comes after previous fatal crashes involving Black Hawk helicopters, prompting the Army to ground all aviation except for critical missions to prevent further accidents.
Despite the high number of fatalities in training incidents involving Black Hawk helicopters in the past decade, the aircraft still has a better safety record relative to hours flown compared to other helicopters in the Army fleet. The review of fatal incidents involving Black Hawks concluded that they are involved in fewer fatal accidents than helicopters such as the Apache and Chinook.
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