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Crashed US Army Black Hawk Unit Was Tasked with Doomsday Preparedness
Helicopter Collision During Training Flight
A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with a passenger jet in Washington on Wednesday while on a training flight. The flight was part of a military mission designed to evacuate senior officials in the event of an attack on the United States.
Continuity of Government and Operations
The military mission, known as “continuity of government” and “continuity of operations,” ensures that the U.S. government remains functional during crises. Most days, crews transport VIPs around Washington, which has heavy helicopter traffic. However, the crew involved in the crash was engaged in a routine night training exercise.
Official Statement from U.S. Defense Secretary
During a White House press conference on Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Black Hawk crew was participating in an annual re-training mission. The flight took place along a designated corridor critical to government continuity operations.
The 12th Aviation Battalion’s Role
The three soldiers killed in the collision were members of the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. This unit is responsible for evacuating Pentagon officials in a national crisis. Additionally, 64 people aboard the passenger jet lost their lives.
Training Flight Along Route 4
The Black Hawk crew was flying along Route 4, a path over the Potomac River, using night vision goggles. As scrutiny intensifies over nighttime military operations near a busy airport, officials emphasize the battalion’s crucial role in national security.
Jonathan Koziol, Chief of Staff of the Army’s Aviation Directorate, explained, “Some of their mission is to support the Department of Defense if something really bad happens in this area, and we need to move our senior leaders.”
Previous Emergency Activation: September 11, 2001
The last known activation of the continuity of government plan occurred during the September 11, 2001 attacks. On that day, the 12th Aviation Battalion transported senior officials to undisclosed “hide sites.”
Former Army aviation officer Bradley Bowman, who was part of the battalion on 9/11, recalled flying a Black Hawk to retrieve then-Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz from one of these secure locations.
Landing at the Pentagon Amid Crisis
Due to damage sustained at the Pentagon, Bowman and his crew had to land in a traffic circle on I-395, which had already been closed. Wolfowitz later described his evacuation to a “bizarre location that was prepared to survive nuclear war.”
Raven Rock Mountain Complex: A Key Backup Facility
That location was identified as the Raven Rock Mountain Complex, also known as “Site R,” located near Camp David. It is one of three main backup sites for the U.S. government, serving as the primary facility for Pentagon leadership during a crisis.
Author Garrett Graff, who has written extensively about government continuity plans, noted, “It’s 100 percent operational today. There’s a team of maybe 100 personnel inside Raven Rock right now, ready to pick up the pieces of the U.S. government.”
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