A Bombardier CRJ700 airplane and a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter collided Wednesday over the Potomac River, plunging both aircraft into the water and leaving no survivors.
The CRJ700, originally developed in Canada, is known for its compact size and reliable operation, with room for up to 78 passengers.
The model was introduced about three decades ago, and Bombardier has claimed that, by 2017, CRJ jets had flown over 1.6 billion passengers worldwide.
Although the CRJ line is now owned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the plane’s legacy remains tied to its Canadian origins.
Meanwhile, the UH-60 Black Hawk, produced by Lockheed Martin, is a key helicopter in military operations.
This military aircraft can carry 12 fully equipped soldiers, while also carrying as much as 9,000 pounds of cargo.
In total, more than 5,000 Black Hawks have been built, logging over 15 million flight hours, including five million in combat.
Authorities have not yet released details on the cause of the crash but said that they have moved from a rescue to recovery operation because there are no survivors.
Recovery efforts continued on Thursday, with investigators searching the river for clues.
