Asra Hussain, one of the victims of the tragic D.C. plane crash, sent a final text to her husband just minutes before the fatal collision.
Hussain, 29, was among the 64 passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342, which departed from Wichita, Kansas, and collided mid-air with a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport on January 29. Authorities have stated they do not expect any survivors.
Her husband, Hamaad Raza, recounted to WUSA that he received a message from Hussain about 20 minutes before the scheduled landing. However, his response never went through.
“She texted me that they were landing in 20 minutes,” Raza said. “I realized something might be up when the rest of my texts did not get delivered.”
While waiting at the airport, Raza saw emergency vehicles rushing past and later learned through news reports that his wife’s flight had crashed.
Hussain, a healthcare policy consultant, commuted regularly from Washington, D.C., to Wichita for work. She was known for her kindness and devotion to family.
“She went above and beyond for others,” Raza told WRC. “For me, for her parents, for my parents.”
Hussain’s father-in-law, Hashim Raza, described her as “brilliant, always smiling, artistic, and an incredible person.” Imam Ahmed Alamine, who officiated Hussain’s 2022 wedding, said she was an active and beloved member of the Indianapolis Muslim community.
Raza, now awaiting arrangements for his wife’s funeral, shared a heartfelt message: “Life is short. Hug your loved ones. Tell them you love them when they’re getting on a flight.”
