A huge search and rescue effort was launched on the icy Potomac River following a midair crash close to Reagan National Airport.

The terrifying moments leading up to, during, and following the accident are captured in recently made public air traffic control audio, which provides important new information about the terrible event.

Near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger flight collided in midair, sparking a search and rescue effort.

There were confirmed fatalities from the incident, which sent the American Airlines plane plummeting into the icy Potomac River, but no survivors had been found as of the time of reporting.

As first responders to the disaster site put in endless hours, authorities suspended all airport operations until at least 11 a.m. ET on Thursday.

With 60 passengers and four crew members, American Airlines Flight 5342, run by PSA Airlines, had taken off from Wichita, Kansas.

When the crash happened, the Black Hawk chopper carrying three soldiers was engaged in a training mission. The helicopter was discovered close by, and aviation and defense officials said that the plane was in parts in the ocean.

The events leading up to the catastrophe were shockingly captured on air traffic control audio, which provided crucial information about the seconds before impact. “PAT 2-5 do you have the CRJ in sight?” the air traffic controller asks the helicopter crew in the recording.

Moments later, the controller instructed, “PAT 2-5 pass behind the CRJ.” Shortly before the collision, the Black Hawk pilot confirmed visual contact with the aircraft, stating, “PAT 2-5 has aircraft in sight, request visual separation”

The audio showed audible gasps from the tower, including a loud “oooh,” less than 13 seconds after the strike. Air traffic authorities promptly alerted another pilot to the impending catastrophe after the accident.

“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 stated.

Another pilot confirmed witnessing the incident, telling air traffic control, “Yeah, we were on short final, and we saw flares from the opposite side of the Potomac.” An approach controller added, “Apparently both aircraft involved are in the river, a search and rescue will be ongoing.”

Reagan National Airport was severely disrupted by the disaster, and flights were being rerouted to other places.

Jack Potter, the CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, expressed regret for the loss and mentioned that American Airlines had set up a center within the airport to offer assistance to the relatives and friends of those who were on board.

“We’ve directed the families there, and there are counselors there to work with the families,” he said. Rescue teams faced significant challenges in recovering victims due to the depth and conditions of the Potomac River.

The river is 24 feet deep on average, with some sections near Morgantown, Maryland, reaching 107 feet, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Recovery operations are made more difficult by the cold temperatures and powerful currents.

President Donald Trump responded to the tragedy on his Truth Social platform, criticizing the circumstances leading to the collision. “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,” he wrote.

“It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. 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!!!” he concluded.

This midair collision serves as a somber reminder of other recent aviation tragedies, such as the October 2024 helicopter accident into a Houston radio tower.

The recordings provide a terrifying glimpse into how swiftly tragedy can occur and will be essential in identifying the reason of this catastrophic crash as search operations continue and investigators attempt to piece together the last moments before impact.