The husband of a passenger on board American Airline Flight 5342, which crashed with a Blackhawk military helicopter at the DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has shared his wife’s final text.
Raza said he received a message from her on Wednesday night, January 29, simply stating “landing in 20 minutes.”
In a tragic interview Hamaad Raza, revealed he attempted to reply, but when his message didn’t send, he sensed trouble. “I’m praying someone is pulling her from the river as we speak. She text me saying she was landing in 20 mins,” the shocked man told CBS News.
His wife, whose name he did not disclose, was returning from a work trip in Kansas. The catastrophe unfolded close to 9pm local time, as the regional jet from Wichita was making its approach to Reagan National Airport but sadly collided with the US Army Blackhawk, reports the Mirror.
According to a statement released on X by the department, following the incident, the aircraft plunged into the river. Responders, including fireboats and layers of emergency agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), rushed to the scene, where the stricken aircraft lay split in two in the Potomac River.
70 people are feared to have been killed, while 19 bodies have already been recovered from the scene of the crash.
The air traffic at the airport came to a standstill amid the emergency response. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the incident was brought to the attention of President Donald Trump and Vice President J. D Vance, who are being kept up to date with the ongoing situation.
In a statement, the Trump expressed his gratitude to the first responders for their “incredible work,” and mentioned that he was “monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
He solemnly added: “May God Bless their souls”. Echoing the sentiment, Vice President Vance urged the public 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.”
NBC News has since reported that four individuals were rescued from the water by emergency services. American Airlines confirmed that the flight in question had 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board.
The American Airlines 5342 flight took off from Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport at 5.22PM CST, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
American Airlines released a statement saying, “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.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also took to X, announcing that “every available US Coast Guard resource” was being utilized to the search and rescue operation. The newly appointed official stated her department was “actively monitoring the situation and stand ready to support local responders,” while also “Praying for the victims and first responders.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who took office earlier this week, revealed on social media that he was “at the FAA HQ and closely monitoring the situation.”
Ted Cruz has stated that the Federal Aviation Administration is set to brief the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation tomorrow morning. Moments before landing, air traffic controllers asked a commercial jet if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan National Airport, and the pilots agreed, the Associated Press reported.
A defence official disclosed that the helicopter was based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity. CNN reported, citing a US Defence Official, that three American soldiers were on board the Blackhawk helicopter and no VIPs were present.
Shocking footage from an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center shows two sets of lights, consistent with aircraft, appearing to merge in a fireball.
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