President Donald Trump said Friday that the Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in a collision with a regional passenger jet in Washington, D.C., was flying above the permitted altitude at the time of the accident. His statement appeared to reveal new details about the ongoing investigation.
The U.S. Army has not responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.
Military helicopters frequently travel along Route 4, a designated air corridor over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. For safety reasons, flight altitude in the area is restricted to a maximum of 200 feet (61 meters).
“The Black Hawk helicopter was flying too high, by a lot. It was far above the 200-foot limit,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “That’s not really too complicated to understand.” The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and federal aviation officials are investigating the crash.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that initial findings suggested an altitude violation involving the Black Hawk. Army investigators are conducting an on-site review.
According to Hegseth and Army officials, the helicopter’s three-person crew was highly experienced. The Army identified the instructor pilot, who served as the designated pilot in command, as having 1,000 flight hours, while the co-pilot had accumulated 500 hours.
A third crew member, a crew chief, was aboard the aircraft at the time of the collision. The Black Hawk was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion, based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, which oversees helicopter transport in the Washington, D.C., area and provides air support for senior U.S. government officials.
Federal authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
