Tracking the American Airlines plane moments before collision with military helicopter near Reagan National Airport
An American Airlines plane collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night, resulting in a tragic crash.
"We're looking for a aircraft versus helicopter into the Potomac," one first responder reported in an emergency transmission, as more than 300 responders rushed to the scene.
The collision occurred at 8:48 p.m. as the Army helicopter was on a training flight near the river, an area known for heavy military and law enforcement helicopter traffic.
The Hearst Television National Investigative Unit reviewed air traffic controller audio around the time of the crash. At one point, while a controller communicated with another aircraft, audible gasps could be heard in the background from others in the tower witnessing the collision in the sky.
"Tower, did you see that?" one pilot asked, as the control tower moved quickly to reroute other aircraft.
The American Airlines flight, identified as Flight 5342, was on its final approach to Reagan National Airport.
A few minutes before landing, air traffic controllers asked the pilot if they could land on a shorter runway, to which the pilot agreed.
Controllers then cleared the plane to land.
The National Investigative Unit tracked the adjusted final approach, showing the plane's path east of the main runways and over the river.
The last tracking point indicated the plane was at an altitude of less than 300 feet, traveling at about 128 miles per hour.
On the riverfront, a short distance from the crash site, search teams set up a staging area.
Overnight, they removed debris, pieces of the plane's fuselage, and the bodies of some of those who did not survive the tragedy.
