A man shared his heartbreaking story after receiving a text from his wife, who was on the American Airlines flight that crashed into a military helicopter in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night (29 January).
The plane, a Bombardier CRJ700, was operating as American Airlines 5432 and collided mid-air with a Black Hawk helicopter around 9:00 PM local time.
The plane, which had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when the crash happened. It then fell into the Potomac River, with reports saying the plane “split in half” and is now underwater…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
The helicopter, a Sikorsky H-60, had three U.S. soldiers on board. Rescue teams are still searching the river for survivors.
So far, 18 bodies have been recovered from the river, according to the BBC.
Hamaad Raza, the husband of one of the 64 people on the plane, said he knew something was wrong when his texts to his wife stopped being delivered. In an emotional interview with WUSA, he said he had been texting his wife just before the crash. “She texted me that they were landing in 20 minutes. After that, my texts didn’t go through.
That’s when I realized something might be wrong,” he said. Raza is now praying for his wife’s survival, saying, “I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now. That’s all I can pray for.”
U.S. officials said the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the crash was on a training flight. A military spokesperson told Fox News that the helicopter belonged to the Army’s 12th Aviation Battalion and was based at Fort Belvoir. They are working with local authorities to provide more information as it becomes available. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the cause of the crash.
President Donald Trump said he has been fully briefed on the incident and expressed his condolences, saying, “May God bless their souls.” He also thanked the first responders for their efforts and said he is monitoring the situation.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom shared a video expressing his “deep sorrow” over the tragedy. The airline released a statement saying their main concern is for the passengers and crew on board. They are working with authorities and have set up a phone line for families who may have loved ones on the flight: 800-679-8215. Families outside the U.S. can visit the airline’s website for more contact information.
.
