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.
Horrifying Footage Captures the Moment of Impact
Chilling CCTV footage, captured from a nearby building, has surfaced online, showing the instant the two aircraft collided. A massive fireball erupts in the night sky, illuminating the surroundings as flaming debris spirals toward the Potomac River below.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by a scene of chaos and horror as both the plane and helicopter plummeted into the icy waters.
In the wake of the disaster, officials remain tight-lipped on the number of casualties, focusing instead on the ongoing search and rescue mission.
The Desperate Search for Survivors
Rescue teams are racing against time, battling harsh conditions to locate survivors.
Washington D.C. Fire and Emergency Services Chief John Donnelly described the rescue effort as extremely challenging, given the freezing temperatures, strong winds, and floating ice on the river.
“The challenge is access—there is wind, pieces of ice. It is dangerous and hard to work in,” Donnelly said.
More than 300 emergency responders, using rubber boats and advanced sonar equipment, have been deployed in the search effort. However, as hours pass, hope is fading for those still unaccounted for.
