A grieving father has shared the devastating moment he realized something was wrong with American Airlines Flight 5342.
His wife and 11-year-old son were on board when the plane collided mid-air with a US Army helicopter.
American airlines flight 5342 collides with military helicopter
On the night of January 29, Flight 5342 was en route from Kansas to Washington, D.C.
The aircraft crashed into a Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River, near Ronald Reagan National Airport.
The collision occurred around 9:00 p.m.
All 64 people on the passenger plane and three crew members aboard the helicopter are presumed dead.
Among them were Yulia Kay and her son, Ilya Kay, who was also known as Sean.
A father’s worst fear becomes reality
Vitali Kay, Yulia’s husband and Ilya’s father, spoke about the tragic moment he realized his family was in danger.
He tried calling his wife, but she did not answer. At first, he thought her phone was still on airplane mode.
When he matched the flight number with news reports of the crash, he rushed to the airport from his home in Bear, Delaware.
At the airport, authorities let him through a blocked road so he could speak with officials.
He recalled that everyone was deeply concerned and supportive of families waiting for news.
Victims were traveling for an ice dancing event
Yulia and Ilya had traveled to Kansas for an ice dancing camp. Sean’s coach, Sasha Kirsanov, was also on board and lost his life in the crash.
The University of Delaware confirmed Kirsanov’s passing in a statement.
The university offered support to those affected and expressed its condolences to the victims’ families.
Community rallies to support grieving family
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Vitali and his surviving children.
The couple’s other children include a 14-year-old daughter and two younger sons, aged seven and ten.
American Airlines also released a statement expressing its concern for passengers and crew.
The airline is assisting authorities and providing emergency response support.
For families seeking information about loved ones on board, American Airlines has provided a toll-free number: 800-679-8215.
This devastating tragedy has left families mourning and communities in shock as authorities continue investigating the cause of the crash.