Crashed Black Hawk was used as a VIP taxi for the highest ranks of Washington — WSJ

The Black Hawk military helicopter, which collided with a passenger plane in the skies over Washington, was used to transport the top leadership of the United States in the event of an attack on the capital. It is reported by The Wall Street Journal.

According to the publication, the 12th Air Battalion based in Virginia, which included the crashed helicopter, has been involved for many years in transporting American top officials both in the United States and in hot spots — from Vietnam to Lebanon. The battalion ensures the continuity of the work of the government of the country in case of large-scale emergencies.

The helicopters of the air division, called "golden-domed" because of their specific coloring, are actually air taxis for VIP passengers flying around the USA, the WSJ notes.

"I've heard pilots say they like being a taxi for generals," says Andrew Logan, an aviation enthusiast living in Washington, quoted by <url>.

As reported, a Bombardier CRJ700 passenger plane and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided on January 30 near Washington National Airport. Ronald Reagan. All 60 sixty passengers and four crew members were killed, as well as three helicopter crew members.