MID-AIR CRASH UPDATE: First details emerge of passengers on board fatal flight

4

For ads-free news, click here.

The heartbreak was already growing late Wednesday night about potential victims of the horrifying mid-air crash at the Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C.

A passenger jet operating as American Airlines Flight 5342, which originated from Wichita, Kanas, was coming in for landing when it was struck by a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. Both the plane and the helicopter then plummeted from the sky and landed in the Potomac River.

There were 60 passengers and 4 crew on board the American Airlines flight, and 3 soldiers aboard the Army helicopter. All are feared dead.  Rescue workers and divers were working through the night searching for victims.

A local CBS News reporter interviewed Hamaad Raza at the airport. He said his wife was on Flight 5342, and had texted him that the plane was landing in 20 minutes. That’s the last message he had from her.

Hamaad said his wife had gone to Wichita, Kansas for work, and was on her way back. She had a fear of flying.

“I’m just praying that somebody’s pulling her out of the river right now as we speak. That’s all. I can pray for. I’m just praying to God…,” he said.

Fox News reporter Bill Melugin announced that his friend’s wife was also on Flight 5342.

“Yes. One of my friends is going through this right now. His wife was on the flight. Sweet girl who I knew from my time working in NC years ago when they were dating. They have two children ages 3 and 1. I feel sick to my stomach for him. Our friend group is with him for support – but conflicting reports of survivors is absolutely excruciating when no info is being provided,” Melugin wrote.

The Kansas City Star reported that multiple young figure skaters and coaches were aboard American Airlines Flight 5342:

The skaters were part of the National Development Team, a training program for top juvenile figure skaters.

The U.S. Figure Skating Championships were held in Wichita from Jan. 20 to Jan. 26. Some young athletes stayed in the city until Jan. 28, for National Development Camp, an advanced training program.

Team USA pair skater Luke Wang told McClatchy News that skaters who qualified for the elite division stayed an extra day, after which Wang said several boarded American Airlines Flight 5342.

U.S. Figure Skating confirmed the tragic news in a statement, saying that athletes, coaches, and family members were returning home from the National Development Camp held in Wichita, Kansas.

U.S. skater Luke Wang wrote in a post on X Wednesday night, “Praying for all those on the flight from Wichita to dc. among the passengers were skaters and coaches. absolutely heartbreaking. 💔 As we hold everybody on board in our thoughts, we will continue to wait for official information to be released.”

The figure skaters had taken a group photo and posted it on X just two days earlier.

U.S. Figure Skating had just posted several photos on X earlier on Wednesday, and wrote, “To the ones that support our skaters every step of the way. ❤️ Thank you to the families and fans that came to Wichita or watched at home. We felt the love!”

Figure skater Spencer Lane was reportedly one of those aboard the doomed flight.

According to Russian news outlets, Russian world figure skating champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were also on the American Airlines flight.

The couple, who were married, were winners of the world championship in pairs figure skating in 1994. Their 23-year-old son, Maxim, is a figure skater for TeamUSA, and also participated in the US Championship event Wichita.

HORROR IN THE SKY: Passenger jet collides with Army helicopter while landing at Reagan Airport near DC [Trump responds]

Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp

The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS SECTION