Man Shares Heartbreaking Final Text He Received from Wife Before American Airlines Plane Crashed into Potomac River

Mar. 15, 2025

A man whose wife was on theAmerican Airlines plane that collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopterin Washington, D.C., has revealed the final text he received from her before the crash.

On Wednesday, Jan. 29, at around 9 p.m. local time,American Airlines flight 5342 crashed into the military aircraftover the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport after departing from Wichita, Kansas, the FAA said in an initial statement to PEOPLE.

As people continued to wait for news about their loved ones, Hamaad Raza told CNN affiliateWUSAthat his wife was on the plane — and that he’d received a text from her about 20 minutes before she was due to land.

However, he said that his reply never got delivered.

“I’m just praying that somebody is pulling her out of the river right now as we speak,” Raza told the outlet. “I’m just praying to God.”

“She texted me that they were landing in 20 minutes,” he said of the last time he spoke to her, showing the camera the messages.

“The rest of my texts did not get delivered, that’s when I realized something might be up,” Raza added.

Hamaad Raza.WUSA9

WUSA9

Several members of theU.S. Figure Skating community were also on boardat the time of the crash.

U.S Figure Skating confirmed the news in statement to PEOPLE.

“U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.,” read the statement, shared on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Rescue boats search the waters of the Potomac River after the American Airlines plane crash.ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty

The 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships had been held in the city from Jan. 20 until Jan. 26, according to the U.S. Figure Skating’swebsite.

Pairs figure skating world champions Evgenia Shishkova, 52, and Vadim Naumov, 55, who won the title in 1994, were also among those onboard the plane, reportedReutersandThe Guardian, citing Russian news agenciesTASSand RIA.

Emergency response teams are pictured searching the Potomac River.Andrew Harnik/Getty

Andrew Harnik/Getty

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According toCNN, the U.S Army Black Hawk helicopter had three soldiers onboard.

“We can confirm that the aircraft involved in tonight’s incident was an Army UH-60 helicopter out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia. We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available,” a U.S. Army official told the outlet in a statement.

source: people.com