A PANIC-stricken husband whose wife was onboard the doomed American Airlines jet has revealed the last text she sent him moments before the deadly crash. The tragedy happened just before 9pm when the plane crashed with a helicopter mid-air in Washington DC.
![[Airplane wreckage in the Potomac River with emergency responders.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/2025-arlington-virginia-american-airlines-967746048_481627.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Shocking images show the jet that plunged into Potomac River split in two. Horror CCTV from the Kennedy Center showed the moment the aircraft burst into flames. All 64 people onboard - 60 passengers and four crew - are feared dead. A distressed husband, whose 26-year-old wife was on the plane said his last contact with his wife was just a few minutes before the crash.
![[Hamaad Raza, husband of a plane crash victim, receiving a text message.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/husband-hamaad-raza-received-text-967770794_77fc77.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Hamaad Raza told WUSA from near Reagan National Airport: "She texted me that they were landing in 20 minutes.". He then showed undelivered messages on his phone saying "That’s when I realized something was up.". He added: "I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now. That’s all I can pray for.".
![[Person reading a text message on their phone.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/husband-hamaad-raza-received-text-967806735.jpg?strip=all&w=762)
He said his wife had gone to Wichita for work but admitted she never felt comfortable flying. The man alongside another family member are desperately waiting for updates at Terminal 2 at Reagan Airport. The airport is set to remain closed until at least 11am.
![[Emergency vehicles at the site of a helicopter crash.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/5342-collided-black-hawk-helicopter-967792417.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The tragedy happened on Wednesday night when American Eagle Flight 5342 from Kansas was approaching Runway 33 at Ronald Reagan International Airport when it crashed with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. Horror CCTV from the Kennedy Center showed the moment the aircraft burst into flames after crashing in the air.
![[Emergency responders at night near a river and airport after a plane crash.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/emergency-units-respond-passenger-aircraft-967735809_710e83.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
