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Friday, February 28, 2025

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Pakistani Woman Among Victims in US Mid-Air Collision

A Pakistani woman, Asra Hussain Raza, was among the 67 victims of the mid-air collision involving a passenger jet and a military helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.

Asra, 26, was on American Airlines Flight 5342, traveling from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., when the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with the aircraft, leading to a devastating crash.

Final Moments

  • Moments before the tragedy, Asra texted her husband, Hamaad Raza, saying she would be landing in 20 minutes—her last message before the disaster.
  • Hamaad, 25, was waiting for her at the airport but never heard from her again.
  • His father, Dr. Hashim Raza, shared the family’s heartbreak:

    “Asra was everything to us. Now my son is a widower at 25. What do I say to him?”

Asra’s Life & Career

  • Born in Pakistan, Asra studied corporate finance at Indiana University Bloomington, where she met Hamaad.
  • She later earned a master’s in public health from Columbia University and worked for a consulting firm in Washington, D.C., aiming to improve public health policies.
  • She traveled frequently for work, helping turn around hospitals in Wichita, Kansas.

Her father-in-law described her as a brilliant, caring person who loved cooking and dreamed of opening a restaurant.

Family Background

  • Hamaad Raza works as an accountant at Ernst & Young in Missouri.
  • His father, Dr. Hashim Raza, originally from Karachi, Pakistan, is a well-respected doctor in Missouri, serving at Missouri Baptist Medical Center.

PM Shehbaz Expresses Condolences

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the tragic accident, extending condolences to President Donald Trump and the American people:

“Deeply saddened by the tragic news of a mid-air accident between a passenger plane and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”

Fatalities & Investigation Updates

  • All 60 passengers and 4 crew members on the American Airlines flight were confirmed dead.
  • Three military personnel on the Black Hawk helicopter also lost their lives.
  • The wreckage was recovered in three parts, but not all bodies have been retrieved.

Black Boxes Recovered

  • Investigators have retrieved the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the Bombardier CRJ700 jet.
  • A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.

Possible Causes of the Crash

  • Air traffic control staffing shortage:
    • Only one controller was managing both plane and helicopter traffic at Reagan National Airport at the time.
    • Normally, two controllers would be present, and this staffing issue is now under investigation.
  • Radio transcripts indicate air traffic controllers warned the helicopter about the jet’s approach and instructed it to change course.

Broader Concerns

  • The deadliest US air disaster in over 20 years since the 2001 American Airlines crash in New York.
  • US air traffic controller shortages have raised safety concerns, with controllers working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks due to 3,000 fewer controllers than needed.
  • Reagan National Airport’s main runway is the busiest in the US, with over 800 daily takeoffs and landings.

Next Steps

  • Ongoing investigation by the NTSB into the cause of the crash.
  • FAA review of air traffic control staffing at Reagan National.
  • Families mourning the devastating loss as officials work to recover the remaining victims.

The tragedy has sparked debates over aviation safety, staffing shortages, and policy failures, while families like Asra’s struggle with an unimaginable loss.

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