A man anxiously waited at Washington D.C.’s Reagan National Airport, his heart heavy with concern for a loved one aboard the ill-fated American Airlines flight. Speaking to reporters, he revealed that the last message he received was a text saying, “We are landing in 20 minutes.” His replies never went through. Now, all he could do was pray that someone was pulling her out of the river, desperately hoping she had survived.
A man waiting at the airport tells @wusa9 that his wife was onboard the plane involved in the crash at DCA. He says she texted him shortly before crash. He says he realized something was wrong when his iMessage replies to her were never delivered. pic.twitter.com/66xPYlKHsq
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) January 30, 2025
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) What happened to American Airlines Flight 5342?
The tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday night when American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter just outside Washington D.C. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, turning what was supposed to be a routine landing into a devastating disaster.
Rescue operations began immediately, with dozens of firefighters and emergency responders diving into the river in a desperate attempt to locate survivors. So far, 19 bodies have been recovered, but authorities have yet to confirm the total number of fatalities. The airport, overwhelmed by the crisis, halted all take-offs and landings as search teams continued their efforts.
Eyewitnesses described the horrifying moment when the commercial jet, a Bombardier CRJ-701, was on its final approach at an altitude of 400 feet when it suddenly lost control. Videos circulating on social media captured the terrifying collision, showing sparks flying as the plane struck the military helicopter before both aircraft plummeted into the water.
Authorities revealed that air traffic controllers had asked the flight’s pilots if they could land on the shorter Runway 33, and they had agreed. However, moments before impact, controllers warned the Black Hawk helicopter to pass behind the approaching jet. Within seconds, tragedy struck.
As the search for survivors continues, the world watches in shock, hoping for a miracle amid the devastation. Families of passengers wait in agony, their only hope resting on the tireless efforts of the rescue teams working against time in the cold waters of the Potomac River.