Three U.S. Army soldiers were onboard a BlackHawk helicopter that collided with a passenger jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

The Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines commuter plane near Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia Wednesday was on a “training flight” when it crashed into the Potomac River, according to the military service branch.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Army’s 12th Aviation Battalion that includes the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the deadly crash near Ronald Reagan National Airport has been granted a 48-hour operational pause.

Without evidence, Trump blamed air traffic controllers, the helicopter pilots and Democratic policies at federal agencies for Wednesday night's collision.

A jet with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River.

The Army crew involved in a mid-air collision with the jet was "fairly experienced," according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Our deepest condolences go out to all the families and friends impacted during this tragedy, and we will support them through this

Dan Driscoll, an Army veteran and businessman, told senators that he would serve as the soldiers’ secretary of the Army, “not of the generals or of the bureaucracy,” if he is confirmed as President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the largest military service.

Investigators are beginning to explore how an American Airlines jet and Black Hawk Army helicopter collided over Reagan Washington National Airport.

The crash of an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday highlighted issues around the congested airspace shared by civilian and military aircraft over the U.

Increasing pay and benefits alone won't be enough to attract young people to the service, Army Secertary nominee Daniel Driscoll said.

A passenger jet collided with a helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport on Wednesday evening, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River.