A few minutes of air traffic controller audio obtained by CNN from LiveATC.net shows the moment controllers asked the Black Hawk helicopter to confirm whether the American Airlines commercial flight was in sight.
An air traffic controller said, “PAT 2-5 (indicating the military helicopter), do you see CRJ (commercial American Airlines flight)?”
The controller continued to navigate: “PAT 2-5, pass behind CRJ.”
Then there were sighs, including a loud “oh” heard from the control tower, right at the moment of the accident.
The control tower then informed another pilot about the incident.
“I don’t know if you heard, but there’s been a collision at the end of runway 3-3. We’re going to be out of action for an indefinite period of time, if you want to come back, go ahead. Contact the company. Let me know what you want to do,” the controller said, referring to runway 33.
The recording also shows another pilot witnessed the incident and confirmed it to air traffic controllers.
Another pilot may have heard and said, “Yes, we were near the end of the runway and saw flares from across the Potomac River.”
“It is clear that both aircraft involved are in the river, search and rescue will be initiated,” an approach controller said later.
Several other planes were scheduled to be diverted to other airports following the incident, as flights at Reagan National Airport were suspended.
CNN reported that no survivors have been found at this time, citing law enforcement. About 300 people have been mobilized to carry out search and rescue missions at the site of the disaster, the Potomac River.
As of 12:30 noon on January 30 (Vietnam time), the rescue team had recovered 18 bodies.
On the evening of January 29, US time, a serious plane crash occurred near Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C., when an American Airlines plane carrying 64 people collided with a US military Black Hawk helicopter carrying 3 people. Both planes crashed into the Potomac River.
