A plane flying from Wichita, Kansas, collided mid-air with a military Black Hawk helicopter. Authorities have yet to report any survivors.
Hamaad Raza was in the middle of texting his wife as he waited for her arrival at Reagan Washington National Airport when, suddenly, his messages stopped delivering.
Hamaad Raza, from a post dated January 30, 2025 | Source: Youtube/@WUSA9news
A sense of unease crept in Raza, which soon turned to dread when news broke that a flight from Wichita, Kansas, his wife’s flight, had collided mid-air with a helicopter while on approach to runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport. The tragic crash sent the aircraft plunging into the Potomac River around 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29.
Raza shared the last message his wife sent him before his messages went undelivered. It read, “We’re landing in 20.” He attempted to respond, but his texts failed to go through and that’s when a sinking feeling set in. Now he is deeply worried about his 26-year-old wife, whom he has been married to for just over two years.
Hamaad Raza shows the last text message he got from his wife before the crash, from a post dated January 30, 2025 | Source: Youtube/@WUSA9news
“I’m just praying that somebody’s pulling her out of the river right now as we speak. That’s all I can pray for. I’m just praying to God,” said Raza. He shared that his wife had traveled to Wichita for work and always had a fear of flying, making the tragic incident even more heartbreaking.
Raza is a senior associate at EY-Parthenon, a business consulting and services firm. He attended the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and graduated from John Burroughs School.
The journalist who spoke to Raza, Larry Miller, a news anchor for WUSA 9-TV, has also shared that more family members are getting into Reagan Washington National Airport to get information about their loved ones.
As per the Federal Aviation Administration, the passenger plane, Bombardier CRJ700 operated by PSA Airlines on behalf of American Airlines, was carrying 64 people when it collided midair with the US Army Black Hawk helicopter. The Sikorsky H-60 helicopter had three soldiers on board for a training flight.
Fatalities from the plane crash have been confirmed as at least 19 bodies have been recovered from the crash site. Around 300 first responders, including divers and police boats, are actively searching the water battling harsh conditions to locate any possible survivors.
District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief John Donnelly shared, “It’s a highly complex operation, the conditions out there are extremely rough for the responders. It’s cold. They’re dealing with relatively windy conditions.”
As of the time of publication, rescuers have not recovered any survivors from the three debris fields, which are scattered across the freezing Potomac River. Authorities have also reported that the helicopter is submerged nearby.
A view of the American Airlines plane in the water after it collided in midair with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on January 30, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
In a social media post, US President Donald Trump referred to the accident as “a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented.” It was not immediately clear whether Trump’s post was based on official briefings or other sources of information.
He added, “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.”
Press members work near the scene area after a regional plane collided in midair with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., on January 30, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on social media that the Pentagon was closely monitoring the situation and was ready to provide assistance if necessary.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall also weighed in, expressing his sorrow in a statement and calling the incident “nothing short of a nightmare.” He offered his prayers for the victims and their families, hoping they would find strength during such a devastating time.
A view of the scene after a regional plane collided in midair with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River, on January 30, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Alyia Gaskins, the Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, shared her condolences on social media. She offered prayers for those affected and praised the efforts of local fire, police, and emergency teams assisting in the regional response. Alexandria is located just south of Reagan Washington National Airport.
A helicopter flies over the scene area after a regional plane collided in midair with a military helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River, on January 30, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
The last major US commercial air disaster took place in February 2009, when a Continental Airlines flight departing from Newark, New Jersey tragically crashed into a house near Buffalo, New York, while attempting to land.
The plane, a Bombardier Q400, claimed the lives of 49 people. Now, as the current crisis unfolds, people are holding onto hope for any survivors, while also sending their prayers to the families of those confirmed to have lost their lives.
