Chilling ATC Audio Reveals Moment Plane and Helicopter Collide Over DC

DC Plane Crash: ATC Audio Reveals Chilling Moments Before Disaster

“Tower, Did You See That?“—ATC Witnesses Deadly Collision

A dramatic air traffic control (ATC) audio recording has surfaced, capturing the moments leading up to and following the tragic mid-air collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.

The accident occurred Wednesday at approximately 9 p.m. over the Potomac River. The passenger jet—American Airlines Flight 5342, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700—was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, part of a military training flight, had three soldiers on board.

ATC Audio: The Last Moments Before Impact

In the released ATC recording, a controller directs Flight 5342 to take Runway 33 for landing.

The AA pilot confirms the instruction and proceeds toward the runway.

Meanwhile, the controller instructs the Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter—identified as “PAT25”—to pass behind the jet:

“PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight? PAT25, pass behind the CRJ.”

However, no response is heard on the ATC frequency used by controllers. Reports indicate that the helicopter responded on a different frequency designated for military aircraft, which was not heard by commercial flight controllers.

The Moment of Impact

Roughly 40 seconds later, a chilling alert comes from ground control:

“Tower, did you see that?”

“Yup, we saw it,” a voice from the tower confirms, as controllers scramble to take emergency action.

A female controller immediately orders a full stop on all airport activity:

“Everybody hold your positions on the field right now.”

As emergency teams are mobilized, she informs fire command:

“The accident happened in the river. Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river… He approached into Runway 33.”

She then declares an airport-wide lockdown, suspending all takeoffs and landings:

“All runways are closed. Nobody’s landing, no one moving at all.”

Eyewitness Accounts: A Fireball Over the River

Another controller describes witnessing the moment of impact:

“It was probably out in the middle of the river. I just saw a fireball, and then it was just gone. I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river. But it was a CRJ and a helicopter that hit—I’d say about a half mile off the approach into 33.”

Weather Conditions at the Time of the Crash

At the time of the collision, Reagan National Airport reported:
✅ Clear skies
✅ Visibility: 10 miles
✅ Winds: 16 mph (gusting to 26 mph) from the northwest
✅ Temperature: 50°F

Military Training Flight Ends in Tragedy

The U.S. Army confirmed that the Black Hawk helicopter was conducting a training exercise and belonged to Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir.

A Tragic First Since 2009

This devastating crash marks the first fatal accident involving a U.S. commercial airline since 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed during its approach to Buffalo, New York, killing all onboard.

Investigation Underway

Authorities are now conducting a full investigation into the cause of the collision, with recovery operations ongoing in the Potomac River.

Stay tuned for updates as more details emerge.

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