Hear harrowing air traffic control audio moments before Washington plane crash Harrowing air traffic control audio captured the moments before a helicopter and plane collided in mid-air above the Potomac River in Washington DC.
While the investigation will reveal exactly what happened, this accident raises serious questions about air traffic control and airspace management and coordination, particularly in a country where air traffic control staffing shortages have been of deep concern over the last three years.".
In the harrowing audio, an air traffic controller was heard asking the helicopter pilot: "POAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?"
Released audio showed another pilot witnessed the crash and confirmed the sighting with one of the air traffic controllers.
He added: "“This mid-air collision between an American Eagle regional jet and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter near Washington Reagan National is a deeply alarming incident, especially given how tightly controlled and congested the airspace is over the U.S. capital.
