American Airlines Plane Crash: Audio Reveals What Happened Before, During, and After

A midair collision near Reagan National Airport between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter sent the aircraft into the freezing Potomac River, prompting a massive search and rescue effort. Air traffic control audio captures the chilling moments before impact, revealing a controller’s last exchange with the helicopter crew.

American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew, had departed from Wichita, while the Black Hawk was on a training flight. The crash resulted in confirmed fatalities, though no survivors had been recovered at the time of reporting.

Operations at the airport were halted, and flights were diverted. Authorities continue recovery efforts, facing challenges from the river’s depth and frigid conditions. Investigators are analyzing the audio to determine the cause of this tragic incident.