Minutes before the American Airlines crash in Washington, D.C., Husband shares a heartbreaking last text from his wife

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The husband of a passenger on American Airlines Flight 5342, which was hit in midair by a Blackhawk military helicopter and crashed in the Potomac River on Wednesday night, disclosed the last text message he received from his wife prior to the tragedy in an interview with CBS News.

Hamaad Raza told the newspaper that he received a text message from his wife stating that he will be landing in 20 minutes. He claimed that when he attempted to send a message back but it was unsuccessful, he realized something was amiss.

As we speak, I’m hoping that someone is dragging her out of the water. “She texted me that she was landing in 20 minutes,” Raza told the newspaper.

He said his wife—whom he did not identify—had left for work in Kansas.

A regional plane traveling from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a Blackhawk military helicopter at approximately 9 p.m. EST. According to reports, the aircraft was getting closer to Reagan National Airport.

A post on X claims that the little aircraft fell into the lake at approximately 9 p.m. EST. The Metropolitan Police Department was among the authorities who responded to the area, along with fireboats. As emergency personnel arrived on the scene, all airport takeoffs and landings were suspended.

President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have been briefed on the situation, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The president stated in a statement that he was keeping an eye on the situation and would share additional information as it became available, while also thanking first responders for their amazing job.

He said, “May God bless their souls.”

Please offer your prayers for all those impacted by tonight’s mid-air collision close to Reagan Airport. We’re keeping an eye on things, but for now, let’s hope for the best. On X, Vice President Vance posted.

American Airlines reported late Wednesday night that the flight was carrying four crew members and sixty passengers.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the commercial aircraft was American Airlines flight 5342, which departed Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport at 5:22 PM CST.

We are aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA and traveling from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA), has been involved in an incident, according to a statement released by American Airlines. As more information becomes available, we’ll let you know.

In a post on X, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that all of the US Coast Guard’s resources were being used for search and rescue operations related to the disaster.

The recently hired official said that her organization was keeping a close eye on the situation and was prepared to assist local responders. She also said that her organization was praying for the victims and first responders.

After taking office earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on social media that he is visiting the FAA headquarters and keeping a close eye on the situation.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said the FAA will brief the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation tomorrow morning.

The pilots of the inbound commercial airplane responded in the affirmative when air traffic controllers asked if it could land on the shorter Runway 33 at Reagan National Airport only a few minutes prior to arrival, according to the Associated Press.

The helicopter was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, a defense official said. The official discussed internal deliberations with the AP while remaining anonymous.

A US Defense official told CNN that the Blackhawk chopper, which was not transporting any VIPs, had three soldiers on board.

Two sets of lights were seen on video taken by an observation camera at the nearby Kennedy Center, suggesting that planes were combining in a fireball.

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