American Airlines plane crash: What were final communications between Air traffic control and pilot? Read message here

Officials believe that no one survived the midair collision Wednesday night of a commercial jet carrying 64 people and an Army helicopter carrying three U.S. service members near Washington, D.C.

Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport, and crews searching the icy waters had pulled 27 bodies from the plane and one from the helicopter, officials told a news conference Thursday morning. Emergency responders were switching from a rescue to a recovery operation, said John Donnelly, Washington's fire chief.

American Airlines said in a statement that 60 passengers and four crew members had been onboard Flight 5342, which had departed from Wichita about 6:20 p.m. Eastern time. It collided in midair with the helicopter around 9 pm (ET) while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan National, the Federal Aviation Administration said.


The plane was a Bombardier CRJ700. According to FAA records, it was built about 20 years ago. Army officials said the helicopter, a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, was on a training flight operating out of Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

As federal investigators began examining the collision, officials said initial information indicated little unusual about the moments leading up to the crash. The night was clear and both the plane and the helicopter were on standard flight patterns, according to Sean Duffy, the secretary of transportation, who said there had been no breakdown in communications between the two aircraft and the control tower. Robert Isom, the CEO of American Airlines, said that the pilot of the jet was experienced, NYT News Service reported.

Air traffic control recordings appear to capture the final attempted communications with the helicopter, call sign PAT25, before it collides with the CRJ jet.

"PAT25, do you have a CRJ in sight? PAT25, pass behind the CRJ," an air traffic controller says at 8:47 p.m. (0147 GMT), according to a recording on liveatc.net.

Seconds later, another aircraft calls in to air traffic control, saying, "Tower, did you see that?" - apparently referring to the crash. An air traffic controller then redirects planes heading to runway 33 to go around.

Webcam video of the crash showed the collision and an explosion lighting up the night sky.


"I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven't seen anything since they hit the river," an air traffic controller was heard saying over the radio.

FAQs

Q1. Which are aircraft involved in US plane crash?
A1. The plane was a Bombardier CRJ700. According to FAA records, it was built about 20 years ago. Army officials said the helicopter, a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, was on a training flight operating out of Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Q2. What did last footage reveal?
A2. Webcam video of the crash showed the collision and an explosion lighting up the night sky.