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Indian-Origin Asra Hussain Raza and Vikesh Patel Among 67 Killed in American Eagle Flight 5342 Midair Collision

by T. Vishnudatta Jayaraman
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Asra Hussain Raza. PHOTO:AsraH@LinkedIn

Indian-origin Asra Hussain Raza and Vikesh Patel were among the 67 people killed in the midair collision between American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan National Airport on January 29, 2025.

Patel was an engineer at GE Aerospace, while Hussain Raza worked as a healthcare consultant based in Washington, D.C. As families and communities mourn the loss of their loved ones, tributes continue to pour in, honoring their lives.

As the flight approached the Reagan Airport, Hussain Raza, a native of Carmel in Indiana, and a healthcare professional, texted her husband, Hamaad Raza, “We are landing in 20 minutes.” He was on his way to pick up Hussain Raza when he received her text message. 

Hussain Raza traveled to Wichita twice a month for a hospital turnaround project, her father-in-law, Hashim Raza told CNN. He added that she often called him after his late emergency room shifts to help keep him awake during the drive home. “She went out of her way for everybody,” he said.

“All she wanted to do was help people, and DC, she thought, was the place to achieve her goals,” Hashim Raza told The Straits Times. “And she was such a great cook – Indian, Italian, Chinese food. I told her to open a restaurant.”

A graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, Hussain Raza earned a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and Policy in May 2020 from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. She later earned a Master’s degree in Healthcare Management at Columbia University. Hussain Raza and her husband had recently moved to Washington, D.C., for work.

A Community in Mourning

Imam Ahmed Alamine, a board member of the Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance (IMCA), shared a heartfelt tribute “A heartfelt tribute to Asra,” on social media, writing, “This is not the post I expected to share while flying 30,000 feet above the Atlantic, returning to the U.S. But some stories must be told, and some people must be honored.”

He learned of the tragedy as he was boarding a flight to Qatar and referred to Hussain Raza’s parents, Saba and Altaf Hussain, as more than just community leaders. “They are family to me,” he added. 

PHOTO: Ahmed Alamine

“From the moment I assumed my role as the Imam of IMCA, Saba welcomed me with open arms and heart, and over the past seven years, I have had the privilege of serving their family. Their contributions to the greater Indianapolis Muslim community are immeasurable,” he conveyed. 

He described Hussain Raza as a “remarkable young woman, full of kindness, faith, and generosity.” Reflecting on her wedding, he shared, when Asra and Hamaad decided to marry, she asked him to provide their premarital counseling and officiate their wedding. “It was an honor I will cherish forever,” he expressed. 

Despite the heartbreak, Imam Alamine spoke of the family’s resilience. “Though I had hoped to reunite with the Hamaad and Hussain family in joyful circumstances, we, as Muslims, submit to the will of our Lord. Their faith is unwavering, and their strength is inspiring,” he added. “Hussain and Raza family, you have lost Asra, but you have gained an entire community. Her legacy of love and kindness will never fade.”

He also conveyed a message from Hussain Raza’s family, “With deep sorrow, we announce the heartbreaking news that our daughter Asra Hussain (26 years), tragically passed away in the plane crash last night (Jan 29th) in Washington, DC. Asra was a beloved wife to Hamaad Raza, the cherished daughter of Saba and Altaf Hussain, and a loving sister to Afra and Arisa Hussain.”

Tributes from Indiana University

Professor of Practice and Director of the Civic Leaders Learning-Living Center at Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Paul Helmke, expressed condolences to Hussain Raza’s loved ones.

“Very sad to learn that one of our IU Civic Leaders Center alums, Asra Hussain, from our 2016-17 cohort, was one of the passengers on the plane that crashed into the Potomac River last night,” Helmke wrote. “She was bright, hard-working, fun to be with, and someone who wanted to make the world a better place.”

Vikesh Patel. PHOTO: Vikesh Patel@LinkedIn
Vikesh Patel. PHOTO: Vikesh Patel@LinkedIn

Remembering Vikesh Patel

GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO Larry Culp expressed his condolences in a social media statement.

“This is a tragedy not only for our industry but also for the GE Aerospace team, as one of our cherished colleagues, Vikesh Patel, was onboard the flight,” Culp said. “Our hearts are with his family and all those impacted by this horrific accident.”

Patel had transitioned to a new role within the company as an MRO Transformational Leader in April 2024, according to his social media profile.

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