Air Traffic Control and Pilots Struggle to Respond to Tragic Mid-Air Accident Over Potomac River
The raw panic and confusion of air traffic controllers and pilots are apparent in the harrowing audio released after a devastating mid-air collision over Washington, DC, on January 29.
“Tower, did you see that?” an unidentified voice is heard asking, capturing the shock and horror as a fireball erupted in the sky above Ronald Reagan National Airport. The crash occurred when American Airlines Flight 5342, a regional jet, collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter as it was preparing to land, resulting in a tragic loss of life.
All 64 passengers aboard the jet and the three crew members on the helicopter were killed when both aircraft plunged into the freezing waters of the Potomac River.
Air traffic controllers had been carefully managing the busy airspace and, moments before the crash, had attempted to alert the helicopter pilot, asking, “PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” and instructing the pilot to pass behind the CRJ700 regional jet.
Less than 20 seconds after the collision, a stunned voice gasped, “Oh my,” expressing disbelief at the unfolding disaster. These chilling transmissions were made public through LiveATC.net, a website that archives global air traffic control communications.
The helicopter pilot did not respond to the controller’s final instructions before the collision.
The regional jet had been descending toward Runway 33, two hours after departing from Wichita, Kansas, when the collision took place. A social media video captured the moment of impact, showing the aircraft coll
