Here is the relevant audio from the DCA tower. Starts with controller asking the helicopter (PAT-25) if it has the CRJ in sight, and instructs it to pass behind the plane. Then you hear controllers responding to the collision in the background, then instructions to other planes.

Here is the Air Traffic control audio of the plane collision at DCA. Can hear controllers responding to the collision at the 17:48 mark:

Controller asks the helicopter at 17:25 if he has the CRJ in sight. Recording doesn’t pick up the response, but from context seems like he says yes, and controller instructs him to pass behind it.

I was supposed to take this exact flight from Wichita to DCA this past Sunday. Ended up changing the flight to arrive home earlier. But still an eerie feeling.

As a pilot, the only scenario I can imagine is that the helo pilots must have thought the controller was talking about a different plane. Like, “oh yeah, I see that one that’s basically landed.” And they didn’t realize he was referring to a different plane further out on final.

Even if that was the confusion, it’s hard to imagine how you still don’t see a not-so-small jet, with its landing lights all on, coming in straight off your left side. Around an airport environment, with traffic call outs coming from the tower, I’d have my head on a swivel.

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@seanmdav I hear ATC ask PAT25 if he has the CRJ in sight, then almost immediately tells PAT25 to pass behind the CRJ. PAT25 never responded. Correlate this with the video all over the news, and it looks like PAT25 was in front of the CRJ. 28 yrs ATC here btw.

@ScottMGreer DEI air traffic controllers!!!

Did the Blackhawk respond that through CRJ was in sight? I didn't here any response.

Sounded like tower personnel saw it in the background of the controllers response to the (other) AA flight. Woman cries out, “Oh my-.”

At 12:35 controller asks incoming traffic to change to rwy 33. Pilot says unable. At 13:00 controller asks 5342 to switch to rwy 33. At 13:28 5342 confirms they can take rwy 33...

@LauraLoomer

Hearing women in the background explains a bit.