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Extremely tense audio reveals air traffic controllers warned the U.S. Army helicopter that fatally crashed into an American Airlines passenger plane in Washington D.C. Wednesday night moments before the catastrophe.

With escalating urgency, the control tower asks ... "PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?" and instructs the military Black Hawk helicopter to "pass behind" the aircraft. That warning came about 30 seconds before American Airlines Flight 5342 -- a Bombardier CRJ 700 -- collided with the chopper in mid-air near Reagan Washington National Airport.

The collision sent both aircraft crashing into the icy Potomac River ... with no survivors expected. There were 64 people on the American Airlines plane -- including four crew members -- and 3 soldiers were on board the Black Hawk helicopter.

At least 30 bodies have been pulled from the river, and the first responders now say their rescue mission has become a recovery effort.

8:30 AM PT -- A spokesperson for the Washington Wizards tells TMZ Sports they're planning to honor the crash victims with a moment of silence before their game against the Lakers in D.C. later Thursday.

D.C.-area sports teams are sending their thoughts and prayers to the dozens of people who are believed to have lost their lives in a midair plane crash Wednesday night.

The Nationals said in a statement they were "devastated" by the fatal collision that occurred when a Black Hawk helicopter seemed to fly into an American Airlines jet just above the Potomac River.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones," the MLB org. wrote.

Katy Perry could really hear her fans 'Roar' last night ... probably screaming out in horrible pain -- 'cause one of them touched a transformer and ended up on fire, and nearly disfigured the pop star's face with sparks.

The singer-songwriter was signing autographs outside "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Wednesday night ... and while making her way down the fence to interact with her fans, sparks exploded in her direction just a couple feet away, causing Katy to duck.

It turns out one of Perry's fans accidentally touched a transformer -- causing a surge of electricity and sparks to spew out ... setting the KP fan's coat on fire.

8:52 AM PT -- Jon Maravilla was NOT supposed to be on board the American Airlines flight that collided with a military chopper, despite a report from Russian outlet RIA Novosti.

Instead, the 19-year-old figure skater says he was scheduled to fly out of Wichita on a Delta flight headed to Atlanta.

Maravilla says he's devastated by the loss of his fellow skaters ... “I was just with them watching them have lots of fun and just enjoying their time.”

Figure Skater Jon Maravilla's life was spared because his dog was too big to board American Airlines flight 5342 ... forcing the young athlete to drive himself back to Washington D.C.

Just several hours after Maravilla was turned away at the gate, the airplane collided with a military helicopter about half a mile short of the Reagan Airport runway, which authorities fear claimed the lives of everyone on board both aircraft.

Maravilla, a 19-year-old from the Detroit area, told a Russian news outlet that he was scheduled to be on flight 5342 ... and confirmed that he lost several of his fellow athletes.

Kanye West and Bianca Censori are back on the radar -- spotted at Tokyo International Airport after weeks off the grid!

Not sure if they’re back stateside yet ... but Ye and Bianca were in full flex mode, with the Aussie turning heads as always in yet another skintight showstopper.

They were cruising on the moving walkway -- Bianca rocking a skintight white metallic fit, underwear peeking through and all… and shades on, naturally, for that signature A-list mystery appeal.

Patti Smith collapsed on stage in Brazil mid-performance -- and she later rolled back out in a wheelchair to let the crowd know she had to cut the rest of the show short.

The 78-year-old music legend experienced the health scare 30 minutes into her performance at Sao Paulo's Cultura Artística Theater with the Berlin-based Soundwalk Collective group... and according to local news outlet, Folha de S.Paulo, it happened while she was reading a statement about climate change.

Patti was taken backstage, but later returned in a wheelchair to apologize ... saying, "Unfortunately, I got sick, and the doctor said I can’t finish. So we’ll have to figure something out. And I feel very badly."

President Donald Trump is weighing in on Wednesday night's fatal midair plane crash, blaming the helicopter pilot for the tragedy in which officials fear there's no survivors.

DT hopped on his Truth Social platform after the American Airlines flight collided with the Black Hawk helicopter, putting the onus for it all on the operator of the chopper.

47 wrote, "The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn."

8:53 AM PT -- Kyle Salewski, who took the video, tells TMZ ... he was in town for the inauguration and took the video because he was shocked -- but not concerned -- how close the choppers were to his plane. He didn't think much of it afterward, until he saw the crash news this morning -- and was compelled to share his experience.

Tons of people are searching for a reason behind the plane crash in Washington, D.C. that has claimed dozens of lives ... and, new video shows just how close helicopters fly to commercial planes.

A user on X posted a clip late Wednesday night ... sharing a video he says he took six days ago -- showing two helicopters flying to the left of an airplane as it takes off from a runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The NFL just released some more video of the aftermath of the Chiefs' big win Sunday ... and, you can see Taylor Swift was absolutely floored her boyfriend was heading back to the Super Bowl.

The footage -- put out by NFL Films on Wednesday -- shows the pop superstar, Travis Kelce and Donna Kelce all on the field in the minutes after Kansas City beat the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game.

The trio are talking about a key block Travis made for Patrick Mahomes ... when, suddenly, Taylor turns, and urges her man to bask in the moment.

U.S. ice dancer Anton Spiridonov is refuting reports he was among those on board the American Airlines flight that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday ... saying he is safe as his community deals with the heartbreaking news.

"Russian news outlets have included me on a list of presumed people on the flight from Wichita to Washington D.C.," 26-year-old Spiridonov said Thursday morning.

"I was NOT on this flight, thank you for everyone's concern for my safety. My heart goes out to all the families affected by this tragedy."

Horrifying stories are beginning to trickle out following the midair collision of an American Airlines flight with an Army Black Hawk helicopter ... one man says his passenger wife texted him she was about to land before their conversation was suddenly cut short.

During an interview with WUSA, Hamaad Raza told a reporter he was praying that authorities would pull his wife's body out of frigid waters near Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C. after the Wednesday night crash.

The AA flight — carrying 64 souls -- was flying from Wichita, Kansas to D.C. when it collided with the helicopter, which was on a training flight with 3 soldiers aboard.

U.S. Figure Skating team members, former world champions, coaches and more are tragically among the passengers onboard the American Airlines plane that collided with the U.S. Army helicopter in Washington D.C.

Members of the U.S. Figure Skating community were returning from Wichita, Kansas, where they were participating in a development camp that followed the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

U.S. Figure Skating did not identify any team members and said in a statement, "We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families close in our hearts."

An American Airlines regional jet preparing to land in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night collided with a military Blackhawk helicopter near Reagan Washington National Airport ... according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

American Airlines said in a statement ... "We’re aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident. We will provide information as it becomes available."

Video from The Kennedy Center shows the explosion take place mid-air across the Potomac River.

Reagan Washington National Airport is currently not allowing planes to land and take off. Images on social media show a massive emergency response near the area of where the crash happened around 9 PM.

Vice President JD Vance posted on X ... "Please say a prayer for everyone involved in the mid-air collision near Reagan airport this evening. We're monitoring the situation, but for now let's hope for the best."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that President Trump is aware of the situation.

The FAA and NTSB will investigate the crash.

Kylie Jenner is giving the French a reason to love Americans ... or, more precisely, two reasons.

The mogul attended Paris Fashion Week and made sure to wear a plunging dress showing off her breasts ... which she's proudly displaying.

Kylie's look is from Ludovic de Saint Sernin and she commanded attention Wednesday at the Jean Paul Gaultier show.

American actor Aaron Schwartz was 14 years old when he played Gerald aka "Gerry" -- the unpopular but kind fat-camp-kid, deemed as the 'Captain' by the other campers -- in the 1995 Camp Hope comedy "Heavyweights."

Schwartz was part of an ensemble cast of Hollywood greats like Ben Stiller as the fitness teacher and head of the fat camp, Tony and Kenan Thompson who is quite practical about being at fat camp and not afraid to call out the other campers, Roy.

Other cast-worthy mentions include Judd Apatow as Homer and Tom McGowan as Pat.

Bar Refaeli was turning up the heat on IG, setting the Internet on fire with a smokin’ hot video featuring some seriously saucy lingerie looks.

The supermodel was working those angles like rent was due, flaunting that killer bod in a series of sheer lace sets that leave little to the imagination.

Bar was mixing things up, proving that even in the world of lingerie, one-pieces can be just as sexy -- as long as visibility is involved, of course.