The Army helicopter and regional American Airlines jet that collided over Washington are both workhorse aircraft that operate around the world on a daily basis.

The Black Hawk helicopter has been in service since 1979, but what makes it so special, that 36 countries use it? Here's everything you need to know.

A Black Hawk helicopter can transport up to "12 fully equipped, seated troops in combat," according to Lockheed Martin, the weapons company that builds the helicopter. There are about 5,000 of these helicopters in use by the United States Military.

Here are images of the two aircrafts involved in the crash, taken from airline websites and directly manufacturers.

A Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter of the US Army was involved in the mid-air collision with an American Airlines plane

U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Eagle Flight 5342 on final approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport over the Potomac.

The trials mark the first time one of the new GE Aerospace T901 Improved Turbine Engines has been powered up inside a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk as part of a US Army plan to overhaul its fleet of the iconic utility helicopters.

Two former Russian figure skating champions were among the passengers as a Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the aircraft, resulting in dozens of fatalitie

Aviation experts are shedding light on the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter after one collided with American Airlines Flight 5342, leaving all on board presumed dead. Officials said the Black Hawk, a four-blade,