Hamaad Raza, whose wife was involved in the horrific Washington D.C. plane crash, shared the final text she sent to him before the tragedy.
American Eagle Flight 5342, which was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with an army helicopter Jan. 29.
And just minutes before the fatal collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Raza received a message from his wife aboard the plane.
"She texted me that they were landing in 20 minutes,” he told WUSA that night. "The rest of my texts did not get delivered, that's when I realized something might be up.”
“I’m just praying that somebody is pulling her out of the river right now as we speak,” he continued. "I'm just praying to God."
As of Jan. 31, 41 bodies have been recovered during search operations thus far, officials confirmed to NBC News, with nearly two dozen rescue teams working on finding and identifying the victims. In the hours that followed the crash, D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly shared a devastating update.
“We are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” Donnelly said during a press conference, per NBC News. “At this point, we don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident.”
Among others aboard the aircraft were American figure skaters, per a statement released by U.S. Figure Skating, as well as their coaches and family members who had been at camp in Wichita.
“These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships,” the organization shared in a statement obtained by NBC News. “We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts."
Russian media outlets reported the American Airlines flight also had Russian figure skaters and coaches, including World champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, onboard.
"Bad news from Washington today," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters in his daily news conference, per the outlet. "We grieve and console with the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in this plane crash."
As for the helicopter involved in the collision, the U.S. Army Black Hawk was, according to Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, carrying three people. Shortly after, President Donald Trump spoke out about the incident on Truth Social.
“This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented," he wrote Jan. 29, "NOT GOOD!!!”
And Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has since agreed with the President’s assessment.
“Everything was standard in the lead up to the crash,” Duffy told reporters Jan. 30, per NBC News. “Obviously something happened here. To back up what the president said, what I’ve seen so far. Do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.”
But while many questions surrounding the disastrous crash remain, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine urges people to refrain from conjecturing.
“Sorrow, thanks and questions,” he said at a Jan. 30 news conference, “as all have expressed, to the crew, to the passengers, to the soldiers, to their families, to their friends, to their loved ones, to people who are still trying to get information and unsure whether their loved ones have been lost. We offer our profound condolences to them and our sorrow for this tragedy.”
Acknowledging that much is left unknown, he added, “It’s not a time to speculate. It’s a time to investigate and get answers to the questions we need, and I’m confident that will be done.”
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Keep reading for everything we know about the American Airlines collision.
What Happened to the Passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342?
On the evening of Jan. 29, American Airlines flight 5342 traveling from Witchita, Kan., to Washington, D.C. collided with a United States Army Black Hawk helicopter near the Reagan Washington National Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed on X, formerly known as Twitter. The plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members and the helicopter, which had three people aboard, crashed into the Potomac River.
The passenger jet, a Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-700 series twin-engine jet, was operated by American Airlines' subsidiary airline, PSA Airlines.
What was first a rescue mission became a recovery operation, with all 67 passengers in both aircraft being confirmed dead.
"Our hearts are with the victims’ families as they navigate this tragic loss," Washington, D.C., officials shared in a statement Feb. 4. “We extend our deepest condolences and remain committed to supporting them through this difficult time."
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation, is still putting the pieces together but said in an update that data from air traffic control showed the helicopter appeared to be higher than the 200-foot ceiling allowed for its route.
"This data showed the Black Hawk was at 300 feet on the air traffic control display at the time of the collision. the NTSB said in a Feb. 4 investigation update. "This data is rounded to the nearest 100 feet.”
Who Was Onboard American Airlines Flight 5342?
Among the 60 passengers were 28 American figure skaters, coaches and family members who were at a camp in Wichita, Kan., according to U.S. Figure Skating.
"These athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships," the governing body shared in a statement obtained by NBC News. "We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims' families closely in our hearts."
World champion Russian figure skating duo Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who wed in 1995, were also onboard, the sport's governing body confirmed.
Hamaad Raza, whose wife was also on the American Airlines flight, was waiting for her at the international airport.
"I'm just praying that somebody's pulling her out of the river right now as we speak," he told CBS affiliate WUSA9. "That's all I can pray for. I'm just praying to God."
Soon-to-be Howard University School of Law professor Kiah Duggins was also a passenger on the flight. The university shared that the civil rights attorney, who earned her J.D. from Havard Law School, was set to join Howard's faculty this fall.
Who Was Onboard the U.S. Army Helicopter Involved in the Collision?
The helicopter was from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion out of Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Public Affairs Deputy Director for Joint Task Force-National Capital Region/Military District of Washington Ron McLendon II confirmed to NBC News.
The official shared that the aircraft was in the middle of a training mission at the time of the collision.
The passengers onboard were identified as Capt. Rebecca Lobach, 28, Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, 39, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O'Hara, 28.
What Happens Next After Recover Efforts for American Airlines Flight 5342?
The FAA, U.S. Army and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the collision, with the latter taking the lead. The Pentagon has also initiated its own investigation.
While there are still more questions than answers, former NTSB and FAA investigator Jeff Guzzetti told Today that the air traffic control communications that night are "going to be scrutinized by the NTSB, that controller will be interviewed and the radar data will be looked at by the NTSB."
As of Feb. 4, NTSB investigators are continuing to transcribe the cockpit voice recorders for both aircraft, they confirmed in an update. The NTSB, in collaboration with the Naval Sea Systems Command Supervisor of Salvage and Diving , are continuing to recover the wreckage from the Potomac River.
Who Has Spoken Out After American Airlines Flight 5342 Crashed Into the Potomac River?
President Donald J. Trump shared his condolences about the tragedy.
"I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport," the White House statement said. "May God Bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise."
Ilia Malinin, the men's figure skater who won his third consecutive U.S. figure skating title in Witchita Jan. 26, confirmed he was not onboard the flight. He wrote on his Instagram Stories, "I hope and pray for everyone who was on that flight is OK."
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu also expressed her grief, saying at a press conference that their "hearts are heavy as a city."
"We mourn with all those who have been impacted," she said. "This is a terrible tragedy that will unite those in Washington, D.C., and Wichita, Kansas, forever."
Two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan shared an emotional message to reporters about the crash that claimed the lives of six skaters from Skating Club of Boston, where the athlete also formerly trained.
"I just wanted to be here and be part of our community," Kerrigan said through tears. "When you find out you know some of the people on the plane, it’s an even bigger blow.”