‘I just saw a fireball’: Air traffic control audio shares tragic moment plane crashes in Washington

Air traffic control audio has shared details from the chilling moment a plane crashed with a helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington. The crash between the passenger jet and a U.S. military helicopter happened on Wednesday night (29th).

American Eagle Flight No. 5342 was carrying 60 passengers and four members of crew at the time of collision, and it is feared all are now dead. There were also three soldiers aboard the Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter. According to CBS News, 19 bodies have been recovered from the river so far. No survivors have been found.

The collision took place in midair at around 9pm, whilst the plane was on its approach to a runway at nearby Reagan National Airport. The helicopter involved in the collision was on a training flight. Footage from the incident is widespread across Twitter.

“The accident happened in the river,” a dispatcher said in audio obtained by CBS News. “Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river.”

BREAKING: Footage of air collision over Washington DC pic.twitter.com/GIqRAaPaC3

— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) January 30, 2025

According to MailOnline, some minute and a half long recording has been heard. “PAT 2-5 do you have the CRJ in sight?”, one air traffic controller said. Seconds later, the controller then said: “Pat 2-5 pass behind the CRJ.” According to reports, a gasp could then be heard, at the moment of the crash. Air traffic control then alerted another pilot of what had happened.

As per CNN, the controller said: “I don’t know if you caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach end 3-3. We are going to be shutting down operations for the indefinite future if you want to go back to the gate. Highly suggest you guys coordinate with the company. Let me know what you want to do.”

Most Read

It’s finally here: Watch the full video of Bonnie Blue’s 1,000 guys in 12 hours challenge

The brutal reason Bonnie Blue’s 1,000 guys in 12 hours video has been BANNED by OnlyFans

Good lord, Bonnie Blue opened up about what Beavo was like in bed and I’m traumatised

A further pilot who witnessed the collision said: “Yeah, we were on short final and we saw flares from the opposite side of the Potomac.”

According to NBC, a controller detailed what they had seen, just after the crash took place. “It was probably out in the middle of the river,” the control was heard saying. “Um, I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven’t seen anything since they hit the river.”

An approach controller later said: “Apparently both aircraft involved are in the river, a search and rescue will be ongoing.”

“It looked to me like a giant Roman candle, sparks shooting from the head of the plane down to the tail. I saw that for about two seconds,” a bystander told NBC Washington.

This story will be updated as more is known. For updates, follow The Tab. Featured image via X and Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock.