A disturbing video captured from an airport’s surveillance system reveals a tragic mid-air collision involving an American Airlines passenger jet and a military Black Hawk helicopter.

The incident occurred as American Airlines Flight 5342 was nearing its landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, located near Washington, D.C. On the footage, the aircraft is represented as a dim white light in the darkened skies around 9 p.m., as it approached the airport. With 64 passengers and crew members onboard, everyone was certainly anticipating a safe landing and some much-deserved rest after their journey from Wichita, Kansas.

Initially, the video presents a typical airport scene; everything appears normal. The footage includes other aircraft rolling into position as a colorful red light flashes on one plane, which maneuvers alongside a retractable jet bridge. This was the only vibrant aspect in an otherwise predominantly dark setting, momentarily overshadowed by the horrifying fireball that soon erupted.

As the video progresses, an alarming sight becomes visible. A faint flickering point of light suddenly appears from the left side of the frame. Initially, it resembles a distant star, but its rapid movement suggests something more serious. The light represents the Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which was conducting a training operation with a crew of three onboard.

The small light approaches closer to the American Airlines flight. For an instant, it disappears from view, causing a momentary hope that it might have detected the looming danger and moved away from its perilous path. However, this fleeting optimism is quickly dashed.

Moments later, the helicopter’s light reappears, swiftly approaching the passenger plane, leading to a catastrophic explosion. A massive fireball erupts, radiating yellow and orange flames that illuminate the night sky, mimicking a blinding sun before it begins to diminish.

What moments before were just two points of light—the aircraft and the helicopter—transform into a chaotic scene filled with various debris scattering through the darkened sky. Meanwhile, another unaffected passenger aircraft continues its taxiing, completely oblivious to the significant wreckage tumbling behind it in what appears to be an uncontrolled descent.

The damaged aircraft ultimately plunged into the Potomac River, and authorities reported that its fuselage was discovered upside down, shattered into three sections in shallow waters. Tragically, it is feared that all individuals onboard have lost their lives, and the bodies of the three soldiers from the helicopter have also been confirmed among those recovered.