The three servicemen aboard the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines passenger jet on Wednesday in Washington were experienced, had night-vision goggles and were on an annual training mission at the time of the incident, Reuters reported, citing the Pentagon.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a video message that a special team of investigators was already on the ground and that he expected answers soon on whether the helicopter was flying in the designated air corridor and at the right altitude at the time of the collision near Washington's Reagan National Airport.

He confirmed that the Army unit involved had been taken on a 48-hour operational hiatus.

Earlier, it became known about the collision in the air in Washington near Reagan Airport passenger plane of American Airlines, on board of which were American and Russian skaters, with a U.S. military helicopter.

All passengers on board the plane were presumed dead.