Man Shares Final Text from Wife Minutes Before American Airlines Flight Tragedy—A Heartbreaking Moment

A man recounts the heart-stopping moment when his wife was on a plane that collided with a helicopter belonging to the United States military.

In the tense moments before the devastating collision between the American Airlines flight he was aboard and a United States military helicopter over Washington, D.C., a man recounted the harrowing experience of receiving a text message from his wife.

On the evening of January 29, 2025, tragedy struck when a Black Hawk helicopter and a Bombardier CRJ700—operating as American Airlines Flight 5432—collided mid-air above Washington, D.C.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the collision occurred around 9 p.m. local time as the passenger jet was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The flight, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, tragically crashed into the Potomac River. NBC 4 Washington reported that the plane “split in half” and sank seven feet below the water’s surface.

The Pentagon confirmed the involvement of a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which was carrying three U.S. servicemen at the time of the incident. Emergency crews are still working tirelessly in search of survivors, while recovery operations continue in the waters.

As of the latest reports, eighteen bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River, according to the BBC.

A Husband’s Desperate Wait

In an emotional interview, Hamaad Raza, the husband of one of the passengers aboard the flight, shared his harrowing experience. He recalled the moment he became anxious when his text messages to his wife failed to send.

“I was worried something was wrong. My wife, one of the 64 passengers on board, had texted me that they were about to land. But when I couldn’t get a message through, that’s when my concern grew,” Raza said, his voice filled with despair.

“I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now,” he continued, visibly shaken. “That’s the only thing I can hope for.”

Raza was initially reassured when he received a text from his wife stating that the plane would arrive in twenty minutes. But as he noticed that his responses weren’t going through, his worry intensified. “That’s when I realized something might be up,” he said, recalling the terrifying moment when he feared the worst had happened.

Black Hawk Helicopter’s Training Mission

Officials confirmed that the Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the collision was on a training mission at the time of the incident. A military spokesperson later revealed that the helicopter was part of Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, stationed at Davison Army Airfield, located at Fort Belvoir. The helicopter was performing routine training exercises when the tragic collision occurred.

In a statement provided to Fox News, a military spokesperson expressed, “We are working with local officials and will provide additional information once it becomes available.”

As of now, the investigation into the cause of the collision and the ongoing recovery efforts are still underway. Authorities are continuing to assess the situation, and further updates will be shared as more details emerge.

Officials are continuing their search and recovery operations while working to piece together the events leading up to the tragic collision. Although the identities of the victims have not yet been officially released, the recovery operation remains a top priority. Investigators are focused on understanding what caused the incident, and updates are expected as they continue their efforts.