On Wednesday night, just moments before a tragic plane crash near Washington DC, a young woman sent a chilling final text to her husband.
Asra Hussain, 26, messaged her husband, Hamaad Raza, saying “We are landing in 20 minutes” as American Eagle Flight 5342 approached Reagan National Airport.
Unfortunately, it was the last message Asra would ever send.
A Family’s Heartbreaking Loss
The devastating crash claimed the lives of 60 passengers, including Asra, and left her husband, Hamaad, heartbroken.
He shared how he sent replies to her text, but they were never delivered.
Hamaad, visibly shaken, spoke with WUSA9 and said he hoped against hope that someone was pulling his wife out of the river as rescue efforts began.
Dr. Hashim Raza, Hamaad’s father, took to social media to express his grief: “This my 25 yo old son who lost his beautiful wife. We are going to DC to be with him.
Hug your family. We are devastated. Our faith in God is unshakable.”
Dr. Raza, a prominent doctor at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, showed incredible strength amid the heartbreaking situation.
A Terrible Accident
The collision occurred around 9 p.m. ET, when American Eagle’s Bombardier CRJ700 jet, which was carrying passengers from Wichita, Kansas, collided midair with a Black Hawk helicopter.
The helicopter was on a training exercise at the time.
Federal Aviation Administration records indicate that air traffic controllers cleared the plane to land on a shorter runway, just moments before the crash.
Seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller attempted to confirm the helicopter’s position relative to the incoming plane. Despite repeated requests, the helicopter failed to respond, and within moments, the crash occurred.
The Aftermath and Recovery Efforts
The bodies of the wrecked plane were found upside down in the icy waters of the Potomac River, broken into three sections.
A massive search and rescue operation soon turned into a recovery mission, with around 300 first responders at the scene.
The wreckage of both the plane and the helicopter were located, and helicopters and inflatable boats were used to help recover victims from the river.
As of the morning after the crash, 28 bodies had been pulled from the icy waters.
The incident marks one of the deadliest crashes in U.S. aviation in nearly 24 years.
Government Response and Investigation
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy addressed the tragedy, confirming that both aircraft were operating within standard flight patterns when the crash occurred.
Duffy stated that the crash was preventable and emphasized that investigators would leave no stone unturned to determine what went wrong.
However, he did not provide further details as the investigation was ongoing.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom also commented on the tragedy, expressing deep concern over why the military helicopter entered the passenger plane’s path.
At the same time, he confirmed that the airline was working closely with investigators and offering support to families.
Wichita and Washington DC Respond
The mayor of Wichita, Lily Wu, shared an emotional tribute to the victims, vowing to keep families informed as identities were confirmed.
American Airlines set up support centers in Washington and Wichita for anyone seeking information about the passengers.
The airline also established a hotline for concerned loved ones.
A National Tragedy
This crash, which has left so many families grieving, underscores the unpredictable nature of air travel, even on a clear night.
Hamaad Raza’s heartache, the loss of his beloved wife, and the grief of so many other families touched by the tragedy will not be forgotten.
Investigators are working tirelessly to uncover the full details of what led to the collision, hoping to provide answers and prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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