Air Traffic Controller Asked Blackhawk Helicopter If It Had American Airlines Jet ‘in Sight’ 30 Seconds Before Crash: Report
Thirty seconds before an American Airlines regional passenger plane and Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Jan. 29, an air traffic controller tried to communicate with the helicopter pilot via radio call.
On Jan. 29, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet and a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter collided. However, 30 Thirty seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if the arriving plane was in its sight, according to audio obtained by the Associated Press.
The controller made another radio call to PAT 25 seconds later, saying, “PAT 25 pass behind the CRJ.” No response from the Army Black Hawk helicopter was recorded from any flight tracking sites, per the Associated Press, and moments later, the two aircraft crashed into each other.
Meanwhile, the plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting over the middle of the Potomac River and around 2,400 feet short of the runway. The plane was approaching Runway 33 around 9 p.m. local time.
There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the jet, according to a statement from American Airlines. According to CNN, US Army Black Hawk helicopter had three soldiers onboard.
“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available,” a U.S. Army official told the outlet in a statement.
At least 18 bodies were pulled from the water, a police official told CBS News. However, the Metropolitan Police Department has yet to publicly confirm any casualties.
The FAA and NTSB are set to investigate, with the NTSB leading.
Win McNamee/Getty
Ronald Reagan Washington Airport crash on January 29, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
Reagan National Airport said that all “all takeoffs and landings have been halted at DCA.”
Additionally, American Airlines issued a hotline for passengers’ loved ones to report to. “If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215,” read the statement. “Those calling from outside the U.S. can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly.
President Donald Trump issued a statement: “I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
Vice President J.D. Vance asked for prayers on X. “Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We’re monitoring the situation, but for now let’s hope for the best,” he wrote.
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