A pilot in the vicinity had a firsthand view of the catastrophic explosion of an American Airlines plane, carrying 60 passengers, after it collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the mid-air collision occurred around 9pm EST when a regional jet, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, crashed into a military Black Hawk helicopter while approaching the runway of the Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington. Multiple people are confirmed to have been killed.
In audio from the air traffic control tower around the time of the crash, a controller can be heard asking the helicopter, "PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight," referring to the passenger aircraft. American Airlines has confirmed it's aware of reports suggesting one of its jetliners was involved in a grim incident, promising to share further details when they emerge.
A nearby observation camera at the Kennedy Center captured video footage showing two light formations reminiscent of aircraft merging into what appears to be an explosion. Officials at the airport reported that emergency teams were called out to handle "an aircraft incident on the airfield.".
The plane was in the process of landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, triggering a massive search-and-rescue operation in the Potomac River. At the time of the collision, there were three soldiers on board the Black Hawk and four crew members on the American Airlines plane.
