Chilling Air Traffic Control Audio came from the times before and after an American Airlines plane was crashing against a military helicopter.
At least 18 passengers were pulled out of the ice-cold waters of the Potomac River after flight 5342 crashed with the Black Hawk Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while trying to land in Washington DC.
The airline has confirmed 60 passengers and four crews were on board the Bombardier CRJ700 at the time. Three people traveled on the helicopter.
A source of law enforcement told CNN that there are confirmed fatalities, but a number still have to be confirmed.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) Audio arose around the time of the incident in the aftermath of the tragedy.
In the almost minute and half-admission, ATC operators can be heard to ask the helicopter if the commercial flight is in sight.
More assignments and confirmations are made between ATC operators through muted audio.
One air traffic controller said, “Pat 2-5 do you have the CRJ in sight?”
Seconds later, the controller spoke again and asked: “Pat 2-5 pass behind the CRJ.”
There are fatal victims of the regional passenger jet crash of the American Airlines who collided with a military helicopter before he fell into the ice -cold waters of the Potomac River on Wednesday evening
Photos have made pieces of the American Airlines plane in the ice -cold waters
The horrible accident led to a large-scale search and rescue operation over the river while helicopters, boats and police searched the water and the land
According to CNN, a spooky, audible sigh can be heard at the time of the tower crash.
The terrifying collision led the tower to warn another pilot about what had just taken place.
According to CNN, the controller said: 'I don't know if you have caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach ending 3-3. We will close edits for the indefinite future if you want to return to the gate.
“Suppose you very much to coordinate with the company,” the audio continued. “Let me know what you want to do.”
The tragic recording also revealed that another pilot had personally seen the crash, confirming the incident with an air traffic controller, CNN reported.
The pilot who witnessed the devastating collision said: “Yes, we were in the short final and we saw torches on the other side of the Potomac.”
According to NBC, a controller described what they saw in the times after the incident, which was also recorded in the audio.
The operator said: 'It was probably in the middle of the river. Uh, I just saw a fire ball and then it was just gone. I have not seen anything since they hit the river. '
A approach controller later said: “Apparently both are involved planes in the river, a search and salvation will be underway.”
A source of law enforcement told CNN that there are confirmed fatalities, but some have yet to be confirmed
At least 18 passengers were drawn from the dark and ice -cold waters of the Potomac River
Although the released audio from ATC is filled in around the time of the collision, you can hear an audible sigh around the 24 seconds
The horrible accident led to a large-scale search and rescue operation over the river while helicopters, boats and police searched the water and the land.
Roy Best, a federal employee, told CNN that he was on the roof of his building, which lies next to the airport, when the collision took place.
“It was just a loud sound,” he said. 'So I turned to the side and I saw a big spark. And then just falls. Because it was a bit dark. Couldn't really tell what it was. I didn't know if it was a blast or what. '
The US Army Black Hawk that collided with the passenger plane was on a training flight at the time of the crash, told Heather Coersez, the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region Media Chief, to CNN. The helicopter had a crew of three on board.
Another source told the socket that the plane is in the river, in pieces, with the helicopter also in the water nearby.
NBC head meteorologist Doug Krammerer said that at the time the wreck was the water temperature about 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
At that temperature, according to Krammerer, someone in that water has only about 15 to 20 minutes before they start suffering from hypothermia.
