Husband Hopes Wife, Who Texted Moments Before Washington Plane Crash, Is Saved As Rescue Ops Face Hurdles

Last Updated:January 30, 2025, 12:49 IST

Emergency responders face dark, cold and windy conditions as they rescue victims of the crash that occurred following a collision of a passenger jet and an Army helicopter.

Emergency personnel work near the site of the crash after American Eagle flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan Washington Airport and crashed into the Potomac River, outside Washington, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Over 300 responders, who are actively engaged in the ongoing rescue operation following the air crash in the Potomac River, say that they face dark, cold and windy conditions, according to reports by US-based news agencies.

An American Airlines regional passenger jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the frigid Potomac River after a midair collision near Reagan Washington Airport on Wednesday night, officials said.

“Our fire department, DC fire and EMS, supported by fire departments and police departments from across the metropolitan region are executing a rescue operation in the Potomac River. They are working diligently in very dark, cold conditions – cold water – to execute this rescue operation," Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a press conference.

Search and rescue efforts have been challenging, said D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly. The Potomac River is about 8 feet (2.4 meters) deep where the aircraft crashed after the collision.

“The water is dark. It is murky," he said.

’Hope Someone Is Pulling Her Out Of The River’

An anxious Hamaad Raza while speaking local Washington-based news outlet WUSA said that he received a text from his wife minutes before the crash. His wife was aboard the Bombardier CRJ700, which collided with the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.

“I’m just praying that someone is pulling her out of the river right now. That’s all I can pray for," Raza was quoted as saying.

He told the news outlet that he felt something went wrong when he saw his messages were not getting delivered.

“She texted me that they were landing in 20 minutes," he said and then added that he responded to the text but those messages remained undelivered.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world Husband Hopes Wife, Who Texted Moments Before Washington Plane Crash, Is Saved As Rescue Ops Face Hurdles