Air Traffic Control Monitored Diversion of Aircraft Immediately Following Washington Plane Crash | US News

Audio recordings from air traffic control captured just before and after the mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger flight and a military helicopter have been made public.

The commercial jet, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided with the helicopter, which had three soldiers on board, near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington DC. Both aircraft subsequently crashed into the Potomac River.

Latest on the crash: Stay updated as the rescue effort continues

In the audio recorded moments before the collision, a controller is heard asking the helicopter crew whether they can see the commercial flight.

At 8:47 PM, the controller states: “PAT25 [the military helicopter], do you have a CRJ [American Airlines flight] in your sight?”

“PAT25, please pass behind the CRJ.”

Following the crash:

Two audio clips reveal communications from air traffic personnel immediately after the incident. In the first clip, controllers direct other aircraft in the vicinity.

Controller: “Did you witness that? Go around, maintain 3,000 [feet].

“Black Jack Three, can you return to base?”

“Black Jack Three, proceed directly. I need you to land. Please land immediately.”

“Could you head to Dulles [International Airport] for a bit?”

“Is Baltimore an option for you?”

In the second clip, an air traffic controller announces: “Crash, crash, crash, this is an alert three.”

Another controller adds: “I don’t know if you caught the earlier incident, but there was a collision on the approach to [runway] 33. We will be halting operations indefinitely.”

A third air traffic controller reports: “Both the helicopter and the plane went down in the river. It likely landed in the middle of the river.”

“I just saw a fireball and then it was gone. I haven’t spotted anything since they impacted the river. But it was a CRJ and a helicopter that collided.”