A devastating midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over Washington D.C. has left the nation in shock, with newly released audio and footage shedding light on the tragic events leading up to the crash.
Key Takeaways
- An American Airlines CRJ700 Bombardier jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Reagan Washington National Airport.
- Air traffic control audio captured the final moments before the crash, revealing attempts to prevent the collision.
- The crash was recorded by a webcam at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, showing a fireball as both aircraft plunged into the river.
- Several U.S. Figure Skaters were confirmed to be on board the commercial flight, while no senior military officials were on the helicopter.
- This marks the first crash involving a U.S. commercial flight since 2009, prompting investigations by the Army and Department of Defense.
Collision Details and Immediate Aftermath
An American Airlines CRJ700 Bombardier jet, carrying 64 passengers and crew, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The helicopter, identified by the call sign PAT25, was conducting a training flight from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, Fort Belvoir. The collision occurred approximately half a mile from Runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in both aircraft crashing into the Potomac River.
The severity of the situation became immediately apparent as air traffic controllers declared an “alert three,” indicating a crash had occurred. Operations at Reagan Washington National Airport were promptly shut down indefinitely, with closures extending until at least 11 a.m. the following Thursday. First responders rushed to the scene, initiating a search and rescue operation in the river, though many were feared dead.
DISPATCH AUDIO FROM REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT: An American Airlines small eagle plane collided with a military helicopter, crashing into the Potomac River near D.C.'s Reagan National Airport Wednesday.
More details: https://t.co/4UREknpVPM pic.twitter.com/d55WFgEwsp— NBC Montana (@NBCMontana) January 30, 2025
Air Traffic Control’s Frantic Attempts
Audio captured by LiveATC.net provides a chilling account of the moments leading up to the collision. Air traffic controllers can be heard frantically trying to prevent the disaster, with one controller instructing the helicopter, “PAT25, do you have a CRJ in sight? PAT25, pass behind the CRJ.” These urgent communications highlight the tense atmosphere in the control tower as they attempted to navigate the flight paths of both aircraft.
The gravity of the situation became even more apparent as the collision occurred. A voice from another aircraft can be heard asking, “Tower, did you see that?” to which someone from the tower responds, “Yup we saw it.” The shock and disbelief are palpable in these exchanges.
Visual Evidence and Weather Conditions
A webcam at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts inadvertently captured the horrifying moment of impact. The footage shows a bright explosion followed by both aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River. This visual evidence has been crucial in piecing together the sequence of events and will undoubtedly play a significant role in the ongoing investigation.
Weather conditions at the time of the crash were reported to be clear, with 10 miles visibility and winds from the northwest at 16 mph, gusting to 26 mph. These conditions suggest that poor visibility was not a contributing factor to the collision, further complicating the question of how such a tragic event could occur in seemingly favorable flying conditions.
Investigations and Impact
As the nation grapples with this tragedy, investigations have been initiated by both the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense. This incident marks the first crash involving a U.S. commercial flight since 2009, ending a long period of relative safety in commercial aviation. The presence of several U.S. Figure Skaters on the American Airlines flight adds another layer of national impact to this already devastating event.
The collision has not only resulted in loss of life but has also disrupted air travel in the Washington D.C. area. As investigators work to determine the cause of this tragic accident, questions about air traffic control procedures, pilot training, and aircraft collision avoidance systems are likely to be at the forefront of discussions in the coming weeks and months.
Sources:
Air Traffic Controller Captures Crash Audio
Air traffic control audio details deadly Washington plane crash: ‘I just saw a fireball’
