IU Alum from Carmel Among 64 Killed in American Eagle Flight Crash

Source: WISH-TV

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — An Indiana University alumnus from Carmel was among the 64 people who died Wednesday when an American Airlines plane crash into a helicopter over the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, her father-in-law and her imam tells News 8.

Asra Hussain Raza, 26, was a passenger on the plane, returning from a work trip. She and her husband had moved recently to Washington, D.C., for work. She worked in health care compliance. She graduated in 2020 from IU Bloomington and received a Bachelor of Science in health care management and policy from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Just before 8 p.m. Wednesday, Hussain Raza had messaged her husband, “We are landing in 20 minutes” as American Eagle Flight 5342 approached the airport. The crash happened shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday.

A new crew filmed Hamaad Raza at the airport. He explained how he’d texted a few replies, but they’d never been received. “I’m just praying someone is pulling her out of the river right now,” he said in an interview on WUSA.

Hamaad Raza’s father, Hashim Raza, of St. Louis, shared the interview early Thursday morning on the X platform and wrote, “This my 25 yo old son who lost his beautiful wife. We are going to DC to be with him. Hug your family. We are devastated. Our Faith in God is unshakable.”

The midair collision between an Army helicopter and the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft, the country’s deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century.

She was an active member of the Indianapolis Muslim Community Association (ICMA) and its mosque Masjid Al-Fajr on Cold Spring Road south of West 30th Street, according to its director, Imam Ahmed Alamine.

“It’s difficult and it’s hard and it’s devastating and surreal, honestly,” Alamine said.

He told News 8 that Hussain Raza went to Al-Ilm Weekend School at the Muslim Community Association. Her parents helped to create the school, bringing children from Carmel to the facility.

“They were among the first families who I got so close to them because the mom was actually serving on our board of directors, and the father has been a community member from the beginning at the mosque. Even though they moved to Carmel they still committed to the IMCA and supporting the IMCA, and they always reach out to me, and I will say it’s an honor for me to be there for them in their difficult time.”

Alamine officiated her marriage at the Alhuda Foundation in Fishers to Hamaad Raza, who survives her. He is 25.

“When she decided to get married she requested me to officiate her wedding specifically, and I had the honor to talk to her before her wedding and her husband,” Alamine said. “Very wise people. Even I thought they didn’t need premarital counseling because they were an amazing couple, and I had the honor to officiate the wedding in 2022, August 2022.”

“One of the most successful premarital counseling I’ve done in my years being an imam. They were very understanding, very cooperative and they knew exactly what to do,” Alamine said. “Their marriage was amazing, and I think both of them being an amazing personality, and their families were very supportive. The fact that their families were amazing. They were two amazing human beings. They made the marriage so easy and successful.”

Alamine said Hussain Raza was beloved in every community she was a part of in Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, and D.C.

“Every time the community needed something, (her parents) did not hesitate to support it, and that spirit is in Asra as well. Even when she moved to DC, in the short time she lived in DC she built a great relationship with a lot of people,” the imam said.

Alamine spoke to News 8 from the airport in Qatar, where he was on layover before flying to Chicago. However, instead of coming home, he will go straight to D.C.

“Honestly, I still am in a state of shock. I couldn’t believe it. I was actually at the airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where I heard the news,” Alamine said. “As soon as I got to Qatar, where I am calling you from now, my phone was flooded with messages and voicemails. This tells you how much this family is loved. Asra herself. She’s well-known among the community.”

The imam said on Facebook, “Please keep them in your sincere duaa during this difficult time.”

A duaa is an Islamic prayer or supplication that asks for help or assistance from Allah.

A funeral will be organized in Indiana, he said. The imam noted it’s important in the Muslim faith to host a burial as soon as possible, and authorities were working with the family.

Alamine says her body had not been found by 5 p.m. Thursday among the wreckage in the Potomac River adjacent to Ronald Reagan National Airport. By mid-afternoon Thursday, at least 28 bodies had been pulled from the river’s icy waters.

Alamine said he would help keep her memory alive.

“How can we make the best out of this tragedy? I know it’s difficult to say, but, like I said, we have to keep up the hope and we have to keep her alive through her memory, through charitable work. She loved everyone, and we wanted to make sure we continue that legacy and shared that love of everyone. At least that is not going to die.”