Tragedy struck over Washington, D.C., last night when an American Airlines regional flight collided midair with a U.S. Army helicopter, sending both aircraft plunging into the icy waters of the Potomac River.
Among the heartbroken loved ones left behind is Hamaad Raza, whose wife was a passenger on Flight 5342. Just moments before the crash, she sent him a text—one that would be her last.
“Landing in 20 minutes.”
When his follow-up messages went unanswered, his worst fears began to unfold.
A Catastrophic Collision in the Skies
According to the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), the crash occurred at approximately 9:00 PM local time, as the aircraft neared Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
The American Airlines CRJ-700 jet, operated by PSA Airlines, was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members on its route from Wichita, Kansas (ICT), to Washington, D.C.
At the same time, a U.S. Army military helicopter was in the air, reportedly conducting a routine training exercise with three soldiers aboard.
Then—disaster struck.
