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.

In a briefing that recalled his most extreme first term remarks, President Trump said without any evidence that diversity initiatives caused the midair collision.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that “there was some sort of elevation issue” with the Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided in mid-air with a passenger airliner Wednesday night over the Potomac River that is now being investigated.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he has grounded the Army battalion involved in the operation of the Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers that crashed into a passenger plane with more than 60 people on Wednesday night.

Search efforts continue after an American Airlines plane from Wichita, with 64 people on board, collided with an Army helicopter near Washington, D.C., and crashed into the Potomac River.

An American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport and crashed into the Potomac River, according to officials.

According to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the Army helicopter was on an "annual proficiency training flight" and the three soldiers on board had night vision goggles.

It was a fairly experienced crew that was doing an annual required night evaluation,” the defense secretary said.

No survivors found in crash between Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines jet over Potomac River near DC

President Trump suggested diversity programs are to blame for a deadly plane crash in the nation’s capital. Trump was joined by members of his Cabinet to give their latest update on the cause of this horrific midair collision. The president said the country was in mourning.

Crews are recovering bodies from the Potomac River after a military helicopter and a commercial plane collided, killing all 67 people on board both aircraft.