Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya

Air traffic audio recorded the moments before a mid-air crash in Washington, D.C., involving a passenger jet with 64 people on board and a Black Hawk military helicopter carrying three soldiers.

The military helicopter crashed into an American Airlines passenger jet on Wednesday night, January 29, as the jet approached Ronald Reagan National Airport.

Federal aviation officials confirmed that the tragic accident occurred as the jet, was attempting to land just before 9 p.m.

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The crash caused the passenger jet, carrying 64 people, to plunge into the icy waters of the Potomac River, prompting a large-scale emergency response.

Sky News reports that survival chances from the crash are slim, making it one of the deadliest plane crashes on American soil

Audio from LiveATC.net revealed that air traffic controllers attempted to direct the passenger jet to land on Runway 33, a much shorter runway.

The controllers were also heard instructing the military helicopter crew to position behind the passenger jet.

“PAT25 [army helicopter], do you have a CRJ [American Airlines plane] in sight? PAT25, pass behind the CRJ,” a controller said.

Moments later, gasps and panic were heard as the air controller asked if anyone had witnessed the crash.

"Tower, did you see that? "one controller was heard saying.

"Crash, crash, crash, this is an alert three," air traffic controllers were heard saying in panic.

One traffic controller is heard reporting a collision and stating that operations at the airport would be halted for an undetermined period.

"I don't know if you saw what happened earlier but there was a crash at approximately three and we are going to shut down operations for the indefinite future."

U.S. president Donald Trump commented on the catastrophic mid-air collision between the two aircraft.

The president took to Truth Social, suggesting the tragedy could have been prevented.

Trump questioned the sequence of events leading to the disaster, noting that the military helicopter had been heading toward the passenger jet for an extended period before the collision.

The president noted that the military helicopter approached the passenger jet for an extended period before the collision.

Trump noted that it was a clear night with both aircraft's lights fully visible. He questioned why the helicopter did not ascend, descend, or change course to avoid the collision.

Following the deadly crash, President William Ruto sent a heartfelt condolence message to those who lost loved ones in the accident.

The head of state took to social media to express that the thoughts and prayers of Kenyans are with the victims of the tragic air accident in Washington, D.C.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke