Newly released air traffic control (ATC) audio recordings provide an eerie and detailed account of the tragic midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River on January 29, 2025.
1. The final communication between the ATC and the helicopter, call sign PAT25, shows the controller instructing the pilot: “PAT25, do you have a CRJ in sight?... PAT25, pass behind the CRJ..." The sound of the collision is followed by an alarming "Oh my G…" from the ATC, with a witness on another aircraft immediately asking, "Tower, did you see that?" as the crash occurred.
2. In the moments following, ground control can be heard saying, “Yep, we saw it,” while urgently instructing all planes to hold positions. Authorities quickly grounded flights at Reagan Washington National Airport, including rerouting helicopters near the crash site.
3. As police boats began responding to the scene, ground control confirmed that both the helicopter and the plane had crashed into the river, approximately half a mile off the approach into runway 33.
4. The radio exchange also reveals a critical coordination effort, with fire officers seeking confirmation about the closure of the airfield and runways, which had been halted following the crash.
5. A fire officer was heard describing the immediate aftermath: "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."
6. Emergency teams immediately went into search-and-rescue mode, with nearby helicopters diverted and rescue operations coordinated to recover debris from the river.
These audio exchanges, combined with dramatic visuals of the debris and police boats around the crash site, paint a sobering picture of the tragic event. Investigations into the cause of the collision are underway.
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