A husband revealed that he received a text from his wife minutes before her American Airlines flight collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, DC.
“I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now. That’s all I can pray for,” Hamaad Raza told WUSA from near Reagan National Airport.
Raza was asked when he last spoke to his wife.
“She texted me that they were landing in 20 minutes,” he told the outlet, showing them the messages on his phone.
Raza said he realized something was wrong when his replying messages didn’t “get delivered.”
“That’s when I realized something was up,” he said, pointing down at the undelivered messages on his phone’s screen.
The tragedy happened when a Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers collided midair with a commercial American Airlines plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members Wednesday night.
Flight 5342, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operating for American Airlines and traveling from Wichita, Kan., collided with the military chopper while approaching Runaway 33 at the Washington airport around 9 p.m.
The American Airlines plane reportedly split in half and is currently seven feet underwater in the Potomac River, sources told NBC 4 Washington.
Rescue efforts are underway in the frigid waters in hopes of finding survivors.
Fireboats are on the scene at the Potomac River in Arlington, the DC Fire and EMS Department posted to X just after 9 p.m.
The Army Black Hawk helicopter that collided with the commuter plane was on a “training flight,” according to the military service branch.
“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir during a training flight,” an Army spokesperson told Fox News.
“We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available.”
The military chopper was not carrying any senior officers.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash.
“If you believe you may have loved ones on board Flight 5342, call American Airlines toll-free at 800-679-8215. Those calling from outside the US can visit news.aa.com for additional phone numbers. Family members in Canada, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands can call 800-679-8215 directly,” the airline said in its statement.
United States Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is on the scene at Reagan National Airport, according to Fox News.
President Trump said he has been “fully briefed” on the midair collision.
“I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which took place at Reagan National Airport,” Trump said in a statement Wednesday night.
“May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”
