Audio Documents The Events Leading Up To, During, And Following The American Airlines Plane Crash

A search and rescue operation was launched after a midair collision near Reagan National Airport between a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight, sending the plane into the icy Potomac River. The crash, which resulted in confirmed fatalities, was captured in air traffic control audio, revealing alarming exchanges between the helicopter crew and controllers before impact.

The Black Hawk was on a training mission, while the American Airlines flight, Flight 5342, had 60 passengers and four crew members onboard. Recovery efforts are complicated by the river’s depth, cold temperatures, and strong currents. Reagan National Airport operations were suspended, and flights were rerouted. President Trump criticized the collision, questioning why the helicopter didn’t avoid the plane. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the tragedy.