A man shared the heartbreaking moment he received a text from his wife who was aboard an American Airlines flight just before it collided with a US military helicopter. The incident occurred on the night of January 29th, when American Airlines Flight 5432, a Bombardier CRJ700, collided mid-air with a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington DC. The plane was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when the crash happened, sending the aircraft into the Potomac River. The jet was split in half and submerged in the water.
The collision involved a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter carrying three US soldiers, according to the Pentagon. So far, 18 bodies have been recovered from the river, and rescue operations are still ongoing. The aircraft had been on a training flight with the Army.
Hamaad Raza, the husband of one of the passengers on board, shared that he became worried when his texts to his wife stopped being delivered. He had been communicating with her just moments before the crash, and she had texted him that they were landing in 20 minutes. He expressed hope and prayed that she was among any survivors being rescued.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. President Trump has been briefed on the incident, and American Airlines has expressed deep sorrow, offering assistance to those affected by the tragedy.
