A tragic mid-air collision took place as a plane traveling from Wichita, Kansas collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter. Authorities are yet to report any survivors from the crash.
Hamaad Raza was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his wife at Reagan Washington National Airport. He was texting her when he suddenly lost contact.
Raza’s anticipation turned to dread as news surfaced that the flight from Wichita, his wife’s flight, had collided with a helicopter while approaching runway 33. The tragic event at 9:00 pm on January 29 led to the plane plummeting into the Potomac River.
Before the terrible news, Raza received a final message from his wife: “We’re landing in 20.” His attempts to reply were unsuccessful, leaving him in distress over his wife, whom he has been married to for just over two years.
“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,” Raza expressed. His wife had been on a work trip to Wichita, and the crash hit him harder since she was always apprehensive about flying.
Raza is employed as a senior associate at EY-Parthenon. His academic journey includes the Indiana University Kelley School of Business and John Burroughs School.
Larry Miller, a news anchor with WUSA 9-TV who interviewed Raza, reported that more families are arriving at the airport to seek information about their loved ones.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the passenger plane operated by PSA Airlines for American Airlines had 64 people on board. It collided with the US Army’s Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which had three soldiers onboard for a training mission.
Fatalities have been confirmed with at least 19 bodies recovered as teams continue their search in the crash area. Over 300 emergency responders, including divers, are working against challenging conditions to search for survivors.
John Donnelly, Chief of District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services, commented, “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.”
Rescuers are yet to find any survivors, and the helicopter remains submerged near the scene.
In a social media post, US President Donald Trump described the incident as “a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented.” The basis of Trump’s comments is unclear, but he extended his gratitude to first responders and promised to keep the public informed.
Pete Hegseth, the newly appointed Defense Secretary, stated on social media that the Pentagon was closely monitoring and ready to assist if needed.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall shared his condolences, calling the incident “nothing short of a nightmare” and offering prayers for the victims and their families during this trying time.
