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.<\/p>\n
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\u2014one that would be her last.<\/p>\n
\u201cLanding in 20 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
When his follow-up messages went unanswered, his worst fears began to unfold.<\/p>\n
A Catastrophic Collision in the Skies
\nAccording 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).<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
At the same time, a U.S. Army military helicopter was in the air, reportedly conducting a routine training exercise with three soldiers aboard.<\/p>\n
Then\u2014disaster struck.<\/p>\n
Horrifying Footage Captures the Moment of Impact
\nChilling 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In the wake of the disaster, officials remain tight-lipped on the number of casualties, focusing instead on the ongoing search and rescue mission.<\/p>\n
The Desperate Search for Survivors
\nRescue teams are racing against time, battling harsh conditions to locate survivors.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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