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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