The Bombardier CRJ700, the aircraft that crashed into the Potomac River on Wednesday night after a reported midair collision with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, is one of the most common jets operating out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The CRJ700 is a regional jet frequently used on short- to medium-haul flights. Reagan airport handles about 1,200 flights a day, almost all of which are limited to less than 1,300 miles because of the airport’s perimeter rule.

That makes the CRJ700 a popular choice for regional carriers who commonly use smaller planes than what their big-name counterparts fly.

American Airlines operates a hub at Reagan and relies on regional partners like PSA Airlines to handle shorter routes. The CRJ is also well suited for the airport’s relatively shorter runways.

The planes are also commonly piloted by less experienced cockpit crew because regional carriers and regional jets are a stepping stone for pilots before they are assigned to larger, mainline craft like Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s at major carriers.

American Airlines has said the flight had 60 passengers and four crew members on board, making it a nearly full flight. The CRJ700 can be configured to seat nearly 80 passengers, but most top out near 70 seats.

American Airlines Flight 5342 took off from Wichita, Kansas, at 5:18p.m., Central and was due to land at Reagan National Airport at 9:03 p.m. Eastern, but dropped out of the air on approach at about 8:48 p.m., according to aircraft tracking site FlightAware.

The cause of the crash is under investigation and the number of fatalities has not been confirmed yet.