A pilot from a nearby aircraft directly witnessed the explosion of an American Airlines plane with 60 passengers after it collided with a Black Hawk military helicopter.

“Tower, did you see that?” a pilot said over the air traffic radio seconds after the collision.

The haunting words were captured by the recordings after the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military Black Hawk helicopter near Washington DC’s Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night.

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Just seconds before the collision, air traffic controllers were heard communicating with the helicopter, designated as PAT25: “PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” referring to the passenger aircraft. Moments later, another pilot’s voice crackled over the radio, describing the terrifying scene: “I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone.”

The American Airlines regional jet, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided with the military helicopter carrying three soldiers. The crash occurred around 9 p.m. EST as the commercial flight from Wichita, Kansas, was making its final approach to Reagan National Airport.

Video evidence and immediate response

Surveillance footage from the Kennedy Center captured the tragic moment, showing two sets of aircraft lights merging into what witnesses described as a massive fireball. The incident prompted an immediate large-scale search-and-rescue operation in the Potomac River.

Official response

American Airlines acknowledged the incident in a social media statement, indicating they would provide additional information as it becomes available. President Donald Trump received an immediate briefing on the situation, while Vice President JD Vance took to social media platform X to request prayers for those affected.

The crash location bears a somber significance, occurring near the site of the 1982 Air Florida disaster that claimed 78 lives. That tragic incident was attributed to adverse weather conditions.