NTSB Audio: Mid-Air Collision Over Potomac River Involving CRJ and Helicopter

Mid-Air Collision Over Potomac River

• 💥 An aircraft accident occurred over the Potomac River, involving a CRJ aircraft and a helicopter.
• 💥 The collision resulted in both the CRJ and the helicopter crashing into the river, described as being east of the approach end of runway 33.
• 💥 Witnesses reported seeing a fireball just before the aircraft disappeared into the river.

Airport Operations Halted

• ✈️ Following the accident, the airfield was closed indefinitely, with all runways and taxiways shut down.
• 🚫 No aircraft were permitted to land, take off, or move on the field.
• ⚠️ Pilots on the ground were advised to shut down their aircraft due to the extended closure.

Initial Response and Information Gathering

• 🚨 Emergency services were alerted, with reports of a fire command being established.
• ❓ Initial information regarding the number of souls on board was not immediately available.
• ❓ Authorities were working to gather details about the accident and its impact.

ATC Communication Snippets

• 🗣️ Air Traffic Control (ATC) communications captured the moments leading up to and immediately after the crash.
• 🗣️ Instructions for aircraft to go around and climb to maintain altitude were heard.
• 🗣️ The phrase "Crash, crash, crash" was repeated, signaling the severity of the incident.

Source and Disclaimer

• 🎧 The audio is sourced from real ATC communications and ADS-B data, edited together by VASAviation.
• ⚠️ VASAviation notes that synchronization between audio and video might not be accurate, and data sources are not official.