Hamaad Raza, whose wife was aboard American Airlines Flight 5342 when it collided with a U.S. military helicopter, shared the last message she had sent him before the tragedy.
The flight was en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., when it crashed around 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
In a heart-wrenching interview with WUSA9, Raza revealed that his wife had texted him saying, “Landing in 20 minutes.” When his attempts to reply went undelivered, he began to suspect something was wrong.
Raza explained to reporter Larry Miller that his wife, who often traveled to and from Wichita for work, had a fear of flying and never felt entirely at ease while on board.
“I’m just praying that somebody’s pulling her out of the river right now, as we speak,” he said.
“That’s all I can do, just pray to God,” a desperate Raza shared with WUSA9.
American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, tragically crashed into the frigid Potomac River. The U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which was also involved in the crash, had three soldiers aboard.
Reports indicate that members of the U.S. Figure Skating team were on the plane at the time of the incident.
“These athletes, coaches, and their families were returning from the National Development Camp, which took place alongside the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas,” the organization confirmed in a statement.
According to the BBC, around 300 rescuers in inflatable boats have been dispatched to comb the Potomac River for survivors, stated John Donnelly, the chief of Washington, DC’s fire and emergency services.
“The main difficulty is getting access,” Donnelly explained. “There’s wind, chunks of ice on the water, making it both dangerous and challenging to work in.”
Later, Donnelly confirmed, “Despite the team’s best efforts, we’ve reached a point where we are transitioning from a rescue mission to a recovery operation. At this stage, we don’t believe there are any survivors from the crash.”
@metrouk A man waiting for his wife at Reagan National Airport revealed the final text she sent to him before her flight collided with a military helicopter. 64 people were on the passenger plane and three soldiers inside the helicopter. A desperate search operation involving hundreds of first responders is now focused on the nearby Potomac River after both aircraft plunged into the freezing water. #fyp#americanairlines#helicopter#blackhawkhelicopter#breakingnews#newsupdate#airport#reagannationalairport#usnews#us#washington
In response to the devastating crash, American Airlines released an official statement:
“American Eagle Flight 5342, traveling from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington, D.C. (DCA), was involved in an accident upon arrival at DCA. The flight, operated by PSA Airlines using a CRJ-700 aircraft, was tragically affected.
“Our thoughts are with the passengers and crew on board. We are actively working with authorities and providing support in the emergency response efforts.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, who had just assumed office on Monday, stated that he was closely monitoring the situation and had received a thorough briefing on “the horrible accident.”
“May God bless their souls,” he expressed, also taking a moment to acknowledge the efforts of emergency responders: “Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders.”