DC airplane crash air site visitors management audio reveals second controllers noticed catastrophe: ‘Tower did you see that?’

Air Visitors Management (ATC) audio from Wednesday’s collision between an Military Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airways jet reveals the moments earlier than and after controllers witnessed the catastrophe unfold. 

The 2 plane collided at Reagan Nationwide Airport in Arlington, Virginia, at round 9 p.m. with 60 passengers and 4 crew members onboard the passenger jet, whereas three troopers had been contained in the helicopter. An enormous restoration operation is underway on the Potomac River.

Within the air site visitors management audio, a controller may be heard directing American Airways Flight 5342 to take Runway 33.

Air Visitors Management (ATC) audio from Wednesday’s collision between an Military Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airways jet reveals the moments earlier than and after controllers witnessed the catastrophe unfold. (EarthCam)

AMERICAN AIRLINES PLANE, ARMY HELICOPTER COLLIDE OUTSIDE REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT NEAR WASHINGTON DC

The AA pilot confirms he can take Runway 33 and is evident to land the plane, a PSA Airways Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet, known as “CRJ.”

The controller then instructs the helicopter, an Military UH-60 helicopter Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter, known as “PAT25,” to move behind the jet.

“PAT25, do you will have the CRJ in sight? PAT 25 move behind the CRJ,” the controller says.

No response is heard on the ATC audio feed. Fox Information has discovered that the helicopter did reply, however on a special frequency, a frequency for helicopters.

About 40 seconds later floor site visitors management alerted the tower.

American Airways Flight 5342 to take Runway 33. (Fox Information)

REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT CRASH: MILITARY BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER COLLIDES MIDAIR WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES JET

“Tower Did you see that?”

“Yup we noticed it,” somebody from the tower says, after which the controllers start the method of frantically diverting the flights.

“Everyone maintain your positions on the sphere proper now,” a feminine controller says.

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“Fireplace command. The accident occurred within the river. Each the helicopter and the airplane crashed within the river… he approached into Runway 33,” she says.

“All runways are closed. No one’s touchdown, nobody shifting in any respect,” she tells the hearth command, including that he has clearance to make use of all taxiways and runways for a response. 

“It was most likely out in the course of the river, the controller says. “I simply noticed a fireball after which it was simply gone. I have never seen something since they hit the river. However it was a CRJ and a helicopter that hit, I might say a few half mile off the strategy into 33,” she says.

On the time of the crash, Reagan Nationwide Airport reported clear skies, visibility of 10 miles and winds sustained out of the northwest at 16 mph, gusting to 26 mph. The temperature on the time was 50 levels.

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The Military instructed Fox Information Digital that the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, carrying three troopers, was “from Bravo Firm, twelfth Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Military Airfield, Fort Belvoir” and was conducting a “coaching flight.”

Russian and U.S. determine skaters had been on board an American Airways flight.

A ship works the scene within the Potomac River close to Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (Alex Brandon/AP)

The collision marked the primary time there was a crash involving a U.S. business flight since 2009.

Colgan Air Flight 3407, a flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Buffalo, New York, stalled and crashed throughout a touchdown strategy close to Buffalo Niagara Worldwide Airport on Feb. 12, 2009. The airplane slammed right into a home.

Fox Information’ Greg Wehner and Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.