‘Tower, did you see that?’: Audio from control tower provides insight into moments before and after Washington plane crash

In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump questioned the actions of the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers on what he described as a clear night (Image: Reuters)

A passenger jet with around 64 people onboard collided mid-air with an Army helicopter while approaching the Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington on Wednesday. The aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, resulting in multiple fatalities.

The crash occurred in one of the most strictly monitored airspaces globally, just over 3 miles (5 kilometers) south of the White House and the US Capitol.

An air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport called the military helicopter less than 30 seconds before the collision, asking, "PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?" A few moments later, the controller directed, "PAT25, pass behind the CRJ."

There was no response and a few moments later, the two aircraft collided.

In the seconds following the collision, another pilot is heard inquiring, “Tower, did you see that?”

American Airlines confirmed 60 passengers and four crew members were aboard the jet. The helicopter, on a training flight, was carrying three soldiers, a US official told Reuters.

Air Traffic Control gave the helicopter permission to pass the jet coming into DCA.WTF pic.twitter.com/CCOW0N8UN3

Texas Patriot (@Texasbrn) January 30, 2025

CBS News, citing a police official, said at least 18 bodies had been recovered and reported that a dive team had recovered one of the two data recorders, the so-called black boxes, from the plane.

Two sources told Reuters multiple bodies had been pulled from the water.

In a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump questioned the actions of the helicopter crew and air traffic controllers on what he described as a clear night.

“The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn,” he said in a post on Truth Social.

“Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!” the US President added further.