Chilling Audio Captures The Moment The Helicopter Collided With D.C. Flight!

Air traffic recording captures the final moments before the collision and reveals what went wrong in final seconds.
By Kushani Gunathilaka
January 31, 2025
1:31 GMT-0830
Chilling Audio Captures The Moment The Helicopter Collided With D.C. Flight!

A Bombardier CRJ-701 jet carrying 64 passengers collided with a US military Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C. In a matter of seconds, what should have been a routine landing turned into a devastating disaster, leaving no survivors. Air traffic control audio captured the tense moments before impact. It gives a haunting glimpse into the final exchanges between pilots and controllers.

The American Airlines regional jet was making its descent into Ronald Reagan Airport when it crossed paths with the military helicopter conducting a training flight. The Black Hawk, identified as PAT 25, had 3 crew members onboard. Despite clear weather, the darkness of the night and the use of night vision goggles by the helicopter crew may have played a role in the confusion.

Controllers repeatedly asked PAT 25 if it had the passenger plane in sight, and the pilot responded affirmatively, requesting “visual separation.” But seconds later, gasps and cries of shock filled the radio as the two aircraft collided.

The chilling air traffic control recordings captured the moments leading up to the crash. Controllers, unaware of the impending disaster, directed the helicopter and the passenger jet as they navigated the same airspace. The conversation started with a routine check-in:

Air Traffic Controller: “PAT 25, do you have the CRJ in sight?”
Black Hawk Pilot: “PAT 25 has the traffic in sight, request visual separation.”
Controller: “Visual separation approved.”

As the two aircraft continued toward each other, a controller issued a final instruction:
Controller: “PAT 25, pass behind the CRJ.”

The helicopter pilot again confirmed they saw the aircraft and intended to maintain separation:
Black Hawk Pilot: “PAT 25 has aircraft in sight, request visual separation.”

But something went terribly wrong. Within 13 seconds, a chilling moment unfolded on the frequency. Suddenly, gasps and a loud “Oh!” could be heard from the control tower.

The realization of the collision set in immediately. Controllers scrambled to alert other pilots of the emergency.

Controller to another aircraft: “I don’t know if you caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach end of 3-3.”

In the background, a pilot witnessing the collision confirmed what had just happened.
Pilot: “Yeah, we were on short final, and we saw flares from the opposite side of the Potomac.”

The controller responded gravely:
Controller: “Apparently, both aircraft involved are in the river. A search and rescue will be ongoing.”

The impact was catastrophic. Both aircraft erupted in flames and plummeted into the icy waters of the Potomac River. All 67 people onboard the two aircraft perished instantly.

The bodies of the pilots, Captain Jonathan Campos and First Officer Samuel Lilley, along with flight attendants Ian Epstein and Danasia Elder, were recovered from the wreckage the following day.

Aviation experts quickly began analyzing the accident, questioning how such a tragedy could unfold in controlled airspace. Radar footage revealed the two aircraft were on a direct collision course. The helicopter flew in a straight path while the passenger jet adjusted its descent for landing.

Air traffic controllers, overwhelmed with high traffic volume, struggled to manage both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft on separate radio frequencies. An experienced air traffic controller later stated that the instructions given to PAT 25 may have been too vague. It might have caused the fatal miscommunication. He noted that precise location-based directions, such as using a clock reference, should have been used to ensure clarity.

Concerns over chronic understaffing at Ronald Reagan Airport resurfaced after the crash. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report revealed that the air traffic control team was operating with just 19 certified controllers. It is far below the recommended 30.

Many controllers were working 10-hour shifts, six days a week, due to ongoing shortages. A preliminary FAA investigation confirmed that the controller directing helicopters was also managing departing and arriving flights. It is an unusual and risky situation that could have contributed to the tragedy.

The crash has also sparked political controversy. During a press briefing, former President Donald Trump pointed fingers at FAA diversity initiatives. His claims suggest that they may have compromised safety standards.

However, aviation experts dismissed this claim, emphasizing the real issue was overworked and understaffed controllers. The FAA has yet to release its final findings, but the incident has renewed urgent discussions on many things. Staffing shortages, pilot communication protocols, and the increasing strain on air traffic controllers are some of such concerns.

In the moments after the collision, a pilot approaching the airport radioed in, confirming what had just happened. “Yeah, we were on short final, and we saw flares from the opposite side of the Potomac.”

The approach controller then grimly responded, “Apparently, both aircraft are in the river, a search and rescue will be ongoing.”