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Shocking Flight Audio Reveals Chaos After Washington Plane Crash

Shocking Flight Audio Reveals Chaos After Washington Plane Crash

Air Traffic Control and Pilots React to Mid-Air Collision Over the Potomac River The raw alarm in the voices of pilots and air traffic controllers was evident as they struggled to comprehend the catastrophic event that unfolded over Washington, DC, on January 29. “Tower, did you see that?” an unidentified voice asked air traffic control,

Air Traffic Control and Pilots React to Mid-Air Collision Over the Potomac River

The raw alarm in the voices of pilots and air traffic controllers was evident as they struggled to comprehend the catastrophic event that unfolded over Washington, DC, on January 29.

“Tower, did you see that?” an unidentified voice asked air traffic control, capturing the shock in the air as a fireball erupted in the sky above Ronald Reagan National Airport. The chaos stemmed from a mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342, a regional jet, and a Black Hawk military helicopter, which crossed paths as the plane prepared to land.

The tragic crash resulted in the deaths of all 64 passengers aboard the jet and the three crew members on the helicopter, which plummeted into the icy Potomac River.

Air traffic controllers had been monitoring the crowded airspace. Just moments before the crash, they had attempted to warn the helicopter’s pilot, asking, “PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” They then instructed, “PAT25, pass behind the CRJ,” referring to the CRJ700 regional jet.

Barely 20 seconds after the crash, a voice, seemingly overcome with disbelief, gasped, “Oh my.” These distressing exchanges were later made public on LiveATC.net, a platform that archives air traffic control transmissions from across the globe.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the audio did not indicate a response from the helicopter’s pilot to the controller’s last instructions.

The regional jet had been on its approach to Runway 33, two hours after departing from Wichita, Kansas. The moment of impact was captured in social media footage, showing the aircraft colliding mid-air, followed by an explosion, before both planes crashed into the river near the White House.

Rescue teams later confirmed that the fuselage of the regional jet had been discovered upside down in the river, broken into three parts. Sadly, they stated there was no hope of finding survivors.

Andy Thomas
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