[Air Traffic Controller Audio Captures Moment of DCA Collision
Air traffic control audio obtained from LiveATC.net reveals the moment air traffic controllers asked the helicopter if it had the CRJ in sight, just seconds before the crash.
” PAT 2-5 do you have the CRJ in sight?” an air traffic controller said.
The controller then said, “PAT 2-5 pass behind the CRJ.”
Additional audio shortly before the collision captures the helicopter pilot saying, “PAT 2-5 has aircraft in sight, request visual separation.”
Less than 13 seconds later, the audio captured audible gasps, including a loud “oooh” in the background, at the moment of the crash.
The tower then alerted another pilot of what had taken place. “I don’t know if you caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach end of 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,” the controller said, referencing runway 33.
The audio also revealed that another pilot had seen the incident and confirmed with an air traffic controller. “Yeah, we were on short final, and we saw flares from the opposite side of the Potomac,” the pilot said.
An approach controller later said, “Apparently both aircraft involved are in the river, a search and rescue will be ongoing.”
As a result, a number of other aircraft made plans to divert to other airports following the incident as flights at DCA were halted.
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