THE pilots aboard the Black Hawk that collided with an American Airlines flight in January had a brief conversation seconds before the crash that appeared to suggest they were about to turn out of the plane’s path.

More disturbing details are coming to light about the crash that left all 67 people involved dead in Washington DC as the National Transportation Safety Board probes the tragedy.

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On January 29, a Black Hawk collided with an American Airlines flight in Washington DC, killing all 67 on board both craftsCredit: NTSB

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Army Captain Rebecca M. Lobach, 28, was a training pilot on the Black Hawk on the night of the crashCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk

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US Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, was her instructor in the helicopterCredit: AP
The NTSB is conducting three days of hearings to try to determine what caused the collision near Ronald Reagan National Airport on January 29.

On Thursday, transportation officials released a transcript of everything that was said in the Black Hawk cockpit in the moments leading up to the crash.

In one fateful moment, the pilots discussed turning east toward the Washington DC bank ot the Potomac River, which could have avoided the tragedy entirely.

A voice recording was recovered from the helicopter that captured pilot instructor Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, speaking with his copilot, trainee Captain Rebecca M. Lobach, 28, The New York Times reported.

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At one point, he said, “All right, kinda come left for me ma’am, I think that’s why he’s asking,” referring to the air traffic controller’s guidance.

“Sure,” replied Lobach, who was at the Black Hawk’s controls.

Eaves then said, “We’re kinda —” before abruptly stopping as Lobach said, “OK. Fine.”

“Out towards the middle,” Eaves finished.

Two seconds later, they crashed into the plane.

The disturbing transcript comes as the NTSB showed a new video from the end of the runway that captured the crash.

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Before they played the video, the investigators paused and told family members they could leave the room or look away.

After viewing the haunting footage, some people in the audience broke down into heaving sobs as they clutched pictures of their gone-too-soon loved ones.

SECOND BY SECOND TIMELINE

About 15 seconds before the crash, the air traffic controller asked the Black Hawk if it could see the passenger plane, according to audio transcripts.

Three seconds after this, the controller told the helicopter to pass behind the American Airlines flight.

Washington DC plane crash victims

A mid-air collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and a military helicopter on January 29, 2025, left dozens presumed dead. The victims include:

Captain Jonathan Campos, 34
First Officer Samuel Lilley, 28
Flight attendant Ian Epstein, 53
Flight attendant Danasia Brown
Spencer Lane, 16
Christine Lane, 49
Jinna Han, 13
Jin Han
Evgenia Shishkova, 52
Vadim Naumov, 55
Alexandr Kirsanov
Angela Yang
Sean Kay
Peter Livingston
Donna Smojice Livingston
Everly Livingston, 14
Alydia Livingston, 11
Inna Volyanskaya
Brielle Beyer, 12,
Justyna Magdalena Beyer
Olivia Eve Ter, 12
Asra Hussain Raza, 26
Michael Stovall, 40
Jesse Pitcher, 30
Elizabeth Anne Keys, 33
Wendy Jo Shaffer
Kiah Duggins
Casey Crafton
Lori Schrock, 56
Robert Schrock, 58
Vikesh Patel
Grace Maxwell, 20
Black Hawk Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara, 28
Black Hawk Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, 39

But while the controller said this, a Black Hawk crew member pressed their microphone and the message never came through.

The NTSB is investigating how the Army crew’s actions were able to completely stop transmissions.

The helicopter was piloted by trainee Captain Rebecca Lobach, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, and Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara.

Choppers flying in that zone are only cleared to ascend to an altitude of 200 feet, but for some reason, the Black Hawk was hovering well above that.

‘Scared’ travelers return to Ronald Reagan airport

By Senior Reporter Israel Salas-Rodriguez in Washington DC:

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is up and running again after a Black Hawk chopper crashed into an American Airlines flight preparing for arrival just before 9 pm on Wednesday leaving 67 people dead.

After closing for 14 hours following the collision, DCA reopened at 11 am on Thursday.

“I’m flying out, it’s pretty tragic,” Abhi, a 25-year-old traveler told The U.S. Sun at the airport.

“I fly regularly and so it does make me feel a little bit more aware than I usually do when I’m flying.

“So, definitely I feel a little bit more aware and scared, but you got to keep going and got to move on you know.”

A Maryland resident named Carlos Estrada told The U.S. Sun he was waiting for his sister’s flight to arrive from Arkansas after it was rerouted to New York.

“She’s very concerned, she’s been texting me the whole time,” Estrada said.

“It makes me uneasy. We’re all here hurting in some way.”

Transportation officials testified Wednesday that the pilots may have been getting inaccurate readings because of an altimeter error.

During the rest of the 15-flight, the Army soldiers made small talk and laughed amongst themselves while Eaves guided.

At one point, Lobach described the radio transmissions from air traffic control as “pretty muffled.”

Nearly two and a half minutes before the crash, Eaves told his trainee to “come down for me” as they were flying at 300 feet instead of the approved 200.

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World-class athletes, budding figure skaters, and a group of hunting buddies were among those who died in the icy waters.

The NTSB will continue to release its six months of findings in hearings this week.

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Family members of the victims who died in the crash sobbed during the hearingCredit: AP

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The National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating the wreck for six monthsCredit: EPA