Possible cause of American Airline crash in Washington revealed: “Do you have the plane in sight?”

Air Traffic Control (ATC) audio in the moments before an American Airlines passenger plane and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in mid-air near Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington has revealed a possible cause of the tragic accident.

It has been reported that the Bombardier airplane had changed its direction slightly to a different runway, although the ATC audio demonstrates the helicopter had been warned of its position, according to CNN.

Why did the crash occur?

In the audio, which has been published on Live ATC, a site that focuses on aviation communications for more than 1,200 airports, air traffic controllers can be heard asking the helicopter if it had the plane “in sight”.

It was initially reported there had been no response to two separate warnings from the helicopter, but the pilot states he “has the aircraft in sight” in subsequent audio that has since been released.

The collision occurs 13 seconds later, suggesting there has been some form of tragic misunderstanding, crucial to the devastating incident taking place.

How many people are feared dead?

There were 60 passengers and four crew members on board the flight, which had come from Wichita in Kansas and was moments away from landing. Three soldiers were in the helicopter, which was reportedly in the midst of a training mission having set out from Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

DC Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly has stated he “doesn’t believe there are any survivors from this accident”. That would mean a death toll of 67.

Reactions have come in from high-profile figures across the United States, including US President Donald Trump, while one man has revealed he had received a text from his wife, who was a passenger on board the AA flight, telling him she would soon be landing.

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