His Wife Was on the Crashed Plane—Her Final Message Will Break You
A plane flying from Wichita, Kansas, crashed into a military Black Hawk helicopter in mid-air. Authorities have not reported any survivors yet.
Hamaad Raza was texting his wife while waiting for her arrival at Reagan Washington National Airport when, suddenly, his messages stopped going through.
A feeling of worry crept in, and soon it turned into fear when news broke that a flight from Wichita, Kansas—his wife’s flight—had collided with a helicopter while approaching runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport. The tragic accident sent the aircraft crashing into the Potomac River around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29.
Raza shared the last message his wife sent before his messages stopped delivering. It said, “We’re landing in 20.” He tried to reply, but his texts wouldn’t go through. That’s when he felt a deep fear. Now, he is anxiously waiting for news about his 26-year-old wife, whom he has been married to for just over two years.
“I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now. That’s all I can hope for. I’m just praying to God,” said Raza. He explained that his wife had gone to Wichita for work and was always afraid of flying, which makes this situation even more heartbreaking.
Raza works as a senior associate at EY-Parthenon, a business consulting firm. He studied at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and graduated from John Burroughs School.
Larry Miller, a news anchor for WUSA 9-TV, reported that more family members are arriving at Reagan Washington National Airport, hoping to get updates about their loved ones.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the passenger plane was a Bombardier CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines for American Airlines. It had 64 people on board when it crashed into a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. The helicopter, a Sikorsky H-60, had three soldiers on board for a training flight.
Authorities have confirmed that at least 19 bodies have been recovered from the crash site. Around 300 first responders, including divers and police boats, are searching the freezing waters under tough conditions, hoping to find survivors.
John Donnelly, the Chief of Washington, D.C.’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services, said, “This is a very complicated operation. The conditions are extremely difficult for our responders. It’s cold, and they’re dealing with strong winds.”
So far, no survivors have been found among the three debris fields scattered across the icy Potomac River. Authorities also said the helicopter is submerged nearby.
On social media, US President Donald Trump called the accident “a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented.” It is unclear if his comment was based on official reports or other sources of information.
He added, “May God bless their souls. Thank you to the first responders for their incredible work. I am closely monitoring the situation and will provide more updates as they come.”
Newly appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on social media that the Pentagon is watching the situation carefully and is ready to assist if needed.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall also shared a statement, calling the crash “nothing short of a nightmare.” He expressed his deep sorrow and sent prayers to the victims and their families, hoping they find strength during this devastating time.
Alyia Gaskins, the Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, posted her condolences on social media. She sent prayers to those affected and praised local fire, police, and emergency teams for helping in the response efforts. Alexandria is located just south of Reagan Washington National Airport.
The last major commercial air disaster in the US happened in February 2009. A Continental Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey, crashed into a house near Buffalo, New York, while trying to land.
That plane, a Bombardier Q400, killed 49 people. Now, as this new tragedy unfolds, people are holding onto hope for any survivors while sending their prayers to the families of those who lost their lives.
