Asra Hussain Raza, a 26-year-old Pakistani woman, was among the victims of the tragic mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, which crashed into the Potomac River near Washington, DC. The devastating incident took place as Asra was returning to Washington after a work trip to Wichita, Kansas.
Moments before the crash, Asra had texted her husband, Hamaad Raza, informing him that she would be landing in 20 minutes. However, Hamaad, who was waiting at the airport, never received another message. The tragic news has left both their families in shock and mourning.
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Asra, a corporate finance graduate from Indiana University and a master’s degree holder in public health from Columbia University, had recently started her career with a consulting firm in Washington, DC. Dedicated to improving public health, she had been married to Hamaad for two years, and the couple was eagerly planning to start a family. Asra’s father-in-law, Dr. Hashim Raza, a renowned doctor in Missouri, shared fond memories of her compassionate nature, highlighting her love for cooking and her passion for helping others.
The collision claimed the lives of 67 people, including 64 passengers aboard the Bombardier jet and three soldiers aboard the Black Hawk helicopter. The crash occurred as the jet was landing at Reagan Washington National Airport. Officials confirmed that there were no survivors, and rescue efforts have transitioned to recovery.
The crash, which is the first major aviation disaster in the US since 2009, has raised concerns about the safety of the crowded airspace near Washington, DC. While authorities reported no communication breakdown between the two aircraft, the collision has left the nation in mourning.
President Trump confirmed the fatalities and controversially linked the tragedy to previous diversity hiring practices in aviation, sparking political debate amid the ongoing recovery operation. Rescue teams continue to face challenging conditions in the cold and windy weather as they work to retrieve the bodies from the crash site.
