Witnesses to mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport speak out

By
Monica Pop
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The mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a US Army Blackhawk helicopter that occurred near Reagan Washington National Airport on the evening of January 29, 2025, brought shock and devastation.

The deadly collision claimed the lives of 67 passengers from both aircraft that ended in the icy Potomac river.

Fire and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly said that as of Thursday morning, 27 bodies had been recovered, and by late afternoon that number reached 40. Sadly, the harsh conditions and the huge ice cubes in the waters of the river create difficulties for the operation.

During a news conference, President Donald Trump said, “Sadly, there are no survivors. This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history, and a tragedy of terrible proportions.

“As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly.”

Getty Images

Witnesses of the deadly mid-air collision shared their accounts of the tragic night.

Abadi Ismail, who was in the Buzzard Point area near James Creek Marina at the time of the tragedy, said, “I have an advantage view of the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, Reagan Airport, the military base. I have cinematic view so I could see everything that is happening from the moment the crash happened [sic].”

When he heard the loud bang, he was watching television.

“It was a bang, bang, very loud bang, bang. Something I’m not familiar with, something you don’t normally hear.”

YouTube/fox5dc

When he looked through the window, he saw smoke rising from the south side of the Reagan Washington National Airport. Just moments later, he witnessed emergency services, police, and fire trucks arriving at the scene.

“Every resource within DC were heading toward the crash scene. That’s when I took the video. Somewhere around 8:50 p.m. [sic],” he recalled.

YouTube/fox5dc

“The crash scene is about two miles from where I’m at. Based on what I see, I have friends that work at the DC Park. Based on their analysis on the site, this is not a search and rescue mission at this point. Unfortunately, it’s a recovery mission [sic],” Ismail added.

Another witness, local resident Jimmy Mazeo spoke to WUSA9 and said that at first, he didn’t think much about it and that the collision resembled “shooting stars.”

“We didn’t really think much of it until we saw the fire trucks started going out to the tarmac and the police cars and boats. It was insane,” he said. They only realized that a serious tragedy had taken place once first responders started to arrive.

“I’m really in awe. Of course it’s terrible what happened tonight, but I think that it’s crazy we got to see what happened. I’m praying for all the people involved in this,” he added.

WUSA9

The mid-air collision was also witnessed by Ari Shulman who was driving home Wednesday night on the George Washington Parkway near Ronald Reagan National Airport when a “spray of sparks” on the sky caught his attention.

“I looked back and [the plane] was banked all the way to the right it was illuminated yellow underneath and there was a spray of sparks on the underside,” Schulman told ABC News chief national correspondent Byron Pitts.

Daily Mail obtained a footage of the collision.

@dailymail An American Airlines regional passenger jet has crashed into a military helicopter while attempting to land at Reagan National Airport in Washington. Emergency services in the city are searching the Potomac River near the airport following the incident just before 9pm on Wednesday night. The airline has confirmed that there was 60 passengers and four crews members onboard Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, to the Capital when the collision happened. NBC Washington are reporting that at least four people have been pulled from the water by rescue crews as dive teams survey the crash site. This is a developing story. Follow DailyMail for live updates. #washingtondc #plane #planecrash #americanairlines #helicopter #news #breakingnews ♬ Scary Tense – Steve Ralph

The cause of the collision is still unknown. At the time being, officials are investigation the circumstances surrounding the tragic event. They are analyzing air traffic control communications, flight data, and weather conditions.

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The final messages from Russian figure skaters to their son before the American Airlines plane crash

By
Monica Pop
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Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, Russian champion figure skaters who won the World Figure Skating Championship in Pairs in 1994 were among the passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342 that clashed with an U.S. Army helicopter on Wednesday, at around 9 p.m.

USA Figure Skating revealed that several other members of its skating community were also on board.

The skaters, their coaches and relatives were returning from the National Development Camp held in Wichita, Kansas.

Vadim Naumov and son Maxim

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” the statement by the USA Figure Skating read.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

Shishkova and Naumov’s son, 23-year-old Maxim, was also part of the camp and many feared that he was also on board, but a teammate, Anton Spiridonov, claimed he left Wichita on Monday and didn’t fly together with his parents.

“I wasn’t on the flight. People I knew, I think, were,” Spiridonov said. “Maxim Naumov was not on board – he left Wichita on Monday.

“He was at the airport with me, going through security at the same time.”

Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov

As per Sankt-Peterburgskie Vedomosti, Russia’s oldest newspaper, the couple sent their son a message, writing how proud they were of his accomplishment and edning on the fourth place in a competition help days prior to the crash.

“We are proud of you, Maxim,” the couple wrote in a social media post. “He climbed to the podium at the Nationals after seventh place in the short program. This beautiful and emotional performance is the result of teamwork. Maxim has earned his place in the team of champions of four continents.”

The couple moved to the United States from the Russian city of Leningrad in 1998, where they became coaches.

Olga Yermolina, a spokesperson for Russia’s figure skating league, told Zvezda that there were no active Russian figure skaters on Flight 5342.

“We have to wait for the official lists,” Yermolina said.

“These are people with other passports who once performed or trained with the USSR or Russian national team, but now they are US citizens.”

DC’s fire and emergency medical services chief John Donnelly said they believe all of the 64 passengers that were on board are believed to be dead.

“We don’t believe there are any survivors from this accident and we have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter,” he said.

Further, the Potomac river, where the plane plummeted, had recently frozen, making it extremely difficult for police divers and boats to search the water for bodies.

Officials expect the operation to last for several days.

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Bored Daddy

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A Renowned Pilot Speaks Out on Deadly Collision

By
Bryan Seal
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I nearly dropped my phone when I saw the headline: Hero pilot Captain Sully shares terrifying theory on why DC plane crash happened. If there’s anyone whose opinion I trust about aviation disasters, it’s Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger—the man who famously landed a passenger jet on the Hudson River back in 2009 and saved 155 lives. This time around, Sully’s concerns center on nighttime flights over water, which he suspects might have played a tragic role in the recent collision near Washington, D.C.

Night Flight Complications

According to Sully, the crash that took 67 lives might have stemmed partly from poor visibility when flying over a dark body of water. He noted that fewer ground lights reflecting off water at night can make spotting other aircraft much tougher. As he explained, “All you can see are the lights on them,” which makes determining relative altitude and distance incredibly challenging. Some might question whether an air traffic controller should have stepped in—but as Sully points out, if the pilots see each other and confirm visual contact, the controller can briefly hand over separation duties to them. Sadly, something went horribly wrong.

Hero Pilot Captain Sully Shares Terrifying Theory on Why DC Plane Crash Happened

Sully also spoke on Good Morning America, where he reiterated that at least one pilot had visual contact but still lost the required distance for a safe flight path. When those last lines of defense fail, it’s reminiscent of “dominoes lined up the wrong way,” to use Sully’s words. With nighttime flights, any small lapse can become catastrophic. The fact that Hero pilot Captain Sully shares terrifying theory on why DC plane crash happened should make every airline and pilot re-examine their protocols—especially around busy airports like Reagan National, known for short runways and nearby air traffic.

Runway Pressures and Staffing Challenges

One area of concern emerging from the incident is staffing in the control tower at Reagan National Airport. Some reports mention that the controller responsible for guiding helicopters near DCA was also handling departures and arrivals. Sully noted that because DC’s airport is so close to other airfields—and has such short runways—pilots need specialized training to operate there safely. Pair these complexities with chronic understaffing, and it’s easy to see how the scenario for a midair collision could develop.

Hero Pilot Captain Sully Shares Terrifying Theory on Why DC Plane Crash Happened… and Why It Must Be Addressed

For the first time since crash-landing in the Hudson River, Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger returns to the cockpit of US Airways jet flight 1549 at the Carolinas Aviation Museum Friday, November 18, 2011. Todd Sumlin – [email protected]

Investigators have recovered the black boxes from the submerged wreckage in the Potomac River—offering a glimmer of hope that the final minutes before the crash can be pieced together. A preliminary report already suggests the tower was stretched thin, with the same person talking to both helicopter and plane pilots. Sully’s warning underscores that nighttime flight, water reflections, and possible staffing shortages might have aligned to create the perfect storm. Whenever I recall that Hero pilot Captain Sully shares terrifying theory on why DC plane crash happened, I can’t help but think: if even he’s rattled by these conditions, we should all be paying attention.

Lessons from the Miracle on the Hudson

Sully’s experience is practically legend by now. When his plane lost both engines after a bird strike in 2009, he managed a safe water landing on the Hudson River, miraculously saving everyone onboard. He’s since been a vocal advocate for safety reforms, pilot training, and thorough incident investigations. If the aviation world heeds his warnings about the recent D.C. crash, maybe future disasters can be prevented. But as Sully puts it, “Any lapse could potentially be fatal, even though we have a lot of safety.”

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A Tragic Midair Collision: My Inside Look at the Disaster Rocking Washington

By
Bryan Seal
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I was stunned the moment I heard news of the plane crash near Washington DC—it’s the first major commercial aviation catastrophe the United States has witnessed since 2009. The collision, which occurred on January 29, 2025, involved a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 passenger jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. As rescue teams sprang into action, the frigid temperatures and strong currents in the Potomac River added to the heartbreak, slowing down any chance of a quick recovery.

The Aircraft, the Timing, and the Chaos

American Airlines Flight 5342 took off from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 64 people—60 passengers and four crew members. It was supposed to land at Reagan National Airport around 9 p.m. But at 8:53 p.m., local authorities started getting frantic calls about “an aircraft crash above the Potomac River.” Meanwhile, the Black Hawk helicopter was on a training mission for the 12th Aviation Battalion, based at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. These soldiers specialize in rapid transport and emergency operations around the National Capital Region. Ironically, the same skills they practice might have come into play for this rescue if they hadn’t been directly involved in the accident themselves.

A Midair Collision Caught on Camera

Air traffic control audio reveals that just before the tragedy, the tower instructed the helicopter pilot to keep clear of the incoming jet. The pilot acknowledged the command, confirming visual contact. However, seconds later, stunned voices from the control tower signaled a catastrophic impact. Videos from EarthCam and eyewitness footage show the plane and helicopter erupting into a fiery collision. One bystander, Ari Schulman, said he was driving home when he saw the aircraft tilt sharply—a full 90 degrees—before sparks lit the sky. Moments later, everything went dark. That’s how quickly this plane crash near Washington DC turned a routine evening flight into a disaster.

Reagan National Shuts Down

With one of America’s busiest airports at a standstill, 19 incoming flights were diverted to Dulles International Airport. Officials soon confirmed that both the helicopter and the passenger jet had plunged into the Potomac. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke at a press conference, emphasizing that the focus was on finding survivors. Families anxiously waited for updates at a support center set up by American Airlines, where counselors did their best to offer comfort. In the midst of it all, one man, Hamaad Raza, revealed he lost contact with his wife just before the collision. He simply prayed someone was “pulling her out of the river right now.”

Racing Against Time in Icy Waters

Nearly 300 first responders, along with the FBI’s Washington Field Office dive team, converged on the river in near-freezing conditions. According to D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly, crews were braving chilling temperatures, strong currents, and floating ice. With water hovering around 35°F, hypothermia is a real threat—on top of the typical challenges of a nighttime rescue. Gasping reflexes can kick in within seconds of hitting such cold water, making the situation downright harrowing for anyone who might have survived the initial crash.

Reflecting on Past Disasters

It’s jarring to realize this plane crash near Washington DC marks the first major U.S. commercial aviation disaster since Colgan Air Flight 3407 in 2009, which took 49 lives. While there have been other serious accidents—like the 2013 Asiana Airlines crash in San Francisco and a 2018 Southwest Airlines engine failure—none had resulted in such widespread calamity for a commercial flight until now. Seeing those helicopters scanning the Potomac with their searchlights reminded me of news reels from older tragedies—except this one is happening right here in real time.

The Road Ahead

NTSB investigators are on the case, but so far, few details about the precise cause have been released. People speculate about human error, mechanical failures, or breakdowns in communication. Right now, that’s all just guesswork. For the families awaiting word on their loved ones, the focus is on immediate answers, not speculation. Back in Wichita, a city prayer vigil has been planned for noon on January 30, inviting the community to come together in support of those impacted by the crash. This display of unity feels critical: if there’s one thing we’ve learned from these tragedies, it’s that empathy and togetherness can at least offer a bit of solace in the midst of heartbreak.

For me, the real gut-punch is how normal everything seemed until it wasn’t. One minute, a flight is simply on approach, the next—lives are turned upside down. In the end, the plane crash near Washington DC reminds us that life is fragile, and the simplest instructions—like “pass behind the CRJ”—can become the difference between a safe landing and a national tragedy.

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Bored Daddy

Love and Peace

Figure skater final photo from plane before horrible crash in Washington

By
Monica Pop
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Among the passengers on board the American Airlines Flight 5342 were six members of the figure skating group.

The plane that was flying from Wichita, Kansas to Washington DC. crashed at around 9 p.m. on Wednesday night and plummeted into the icy Potomac river. 

It was reported that it carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, also involved in the crash, carried three members of the military.

Daily Mail reported that everyone abroad is feared dead at this point.

Spencer Lane, a figure skater involved in the deadly plane crash, documented his trip from the National Development Camp he and the rest of the members were returning from.

The young man’s final post on Instagram showed a photo from inside the plane with the caption, “ICT -> DCA,” codes standing for Wichita’s Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Reagan National.

Figure skater Spencer Lane @spencerskates26 / Instagram

The names of the rest of the members of the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts, were announced by the club.

They are: Jinna Han, Jin Han, Spencer Lane, Christine Lane, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova.

Naumov and Shishkova won the World Figure Skating Championship in pairs in 1994. Their son was also part of the skating camp, but it has not yet been revealed whether he was among the passengers on the tragic flight.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by U.S. Figure Skating (@usfigureskating)

Doug Zeghibe, the head of the skating club, released a statement about its members, who are believed to be aboard.

“Our sport and this Club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy. 

“Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together 6 or 7 days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family. 

“Of the skaters, coaches and parents on the plane, we believe six were from The Skating Club of Boston. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.”

John Donnelly, Washington, DC’s fire and emergency services chief, said, “Despite their efforts, we are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. At this point, we do not believe there are any survivors from this accident.”

According to a statement shared on X by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet was approaching Runway 33 at the airport when it collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter in mid-air. “PSA was operating as Flight 5342 for American Airlines,” the FAA added.

According to President Trump’s first statement, the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional plane was making a regular and accurate approach to the airport. 

“It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn’t the helicopter go up or down, or turn. Why didn’t the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane [sic],” Trump’s statement added.

In an interview with TV host Sean Hannity, Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, emphasized the seriousness of this crash.

“I can confirm that President Trump has been made aware of the situation, and tragically, it appears that a military helicopter collided with a regional jet at DCA airport right here in Washington, D.C.,” Leavitt said.

“That’s all I can confirm at this point in time, and I can just say that the thoughts and the prayers of the entire Trump administration are with all those that are involved, and we ask the public in this area to please stand by for guidance from law enforcement and allow them to do their jobs as they attempt to save lives right now.”

Our thoughts and prayers go to the families who lost their loved ones in this horrific plane crash.

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My ex-husband broke into my house at night while my daughter and I were asleep – then, I suddenly heard her scream

By
Monica Pop
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Being married to Liam was emotionally and financially draining. When I tried to talk to him one night, and asked him to try and change for the sake of our daughter, he casually asked for divorce and soon enough, he was my ex-husband.

However, the things that led to our separation haunted me long after. I couldn’t understand how could someone be so selfish the way Liam was.

He only thought of himself and his little whims he was trying to satisfy with our shared finances.

One time, when our daughter Danielle asked me to take her to ballet classes, I decided to cut some of the costs and provide her with the opportunity. Those who had their kids attending these classes know just how expensive they are.

Pexels

And then, just as I was about to call the academy, Liam came home and told me he invested all of our money on a cripto currency his friends assured him would make him rich over night.

As expected, that turned out to be just a scam that left us broke.

“Liam, you can’t keep doing this, you know that,” I told him one day. But he started yelling and accused me of not believing in him.

Honestly, he was right. I didn’t believe in his plans of making money without having a regular job. So, he asked for divorce, and once I became aware that he didn’t care about being a good husband and father, I agreed.

Luckily, Danielle and I got to keep the house which I inherited from my grandfather.

Midjourney

Since the divorce, Liam hadn’t contacted me. It seemed like he wasn’t interested to know how our daughter was doing either.

And then, one night, while Danielle and I were asleep, someone broke into the house. I heard my daughter’s loud screams and rushed to her room.

She was shaking. “Mom, that man had a crowbar. I think it was… dad.”

Danielle’s words felt like a sharp knife. “Are you sure, honey?” I asked her. With teary eyes, she said, “Yes, mom. It was dad. But his eyes looked scary.”

I couldn’t believe my ex-husband was capable of something like that.

Midjourney

The following morning, I noticed that some of Danielle’s jewelry was missing. It wasn’t much, just a tiny necklace and a pair of earrings my mom and dad gave her when she was born.

Afraid that Liam could do the same thing agin, I asked my mom to take Danielle at her place for some time. In the meantime, I installed security cameras that detected movement. I would receive a notification whenever a movement was detected directly on my phone.

The weeks that followed were calm, and then one night, I received a notification about movement at the front door.

Pexels

Without hesitating, I called 911. “Someone entered my home. Please send help.”

While I was waiting for the police to arrive, I crept down the stairs. I moved passed the kitchen and entered the laundry room. It was then that I realized the person, whom I suspected was my ex-husband, was in the garage.

As I pushed the door, I noticed a person wearing black and having a crowbar in his hand trying to push down the shelf with the tools.

“Liam!” I called his name.

He froze and looked at me. He was wearing a mask, but I could recognize his eyes from a mile away.

Midjourney

“What do you think you are doing?” I asked.

He didn’t say a word, just started walking towards me.

Scared, I rushed towards the other side of the garage and pushed the button that opened the door.

Just as my ex-husband tried to run away, two police officers told him to freeze and drop the crowbar.

I approached him, wanting to know what he was after.

“You stole your own daughter’s jewelry, what else do you want?” I asked, fueled with anger.

Liam looked at me and said that while he was packing, he noticed a safe behind one of the shelves and wanted to see what was inside.

Midjourney

“A safe?” I asked. I had never noticed the safe Liam was talking about, but now as I knew it existed, I was eager to learn what was inside.

The following morning, I contacted a locksmith who opened the safe. Inside, there weren’t any gold bars or jewelry, just neatly placed bank documents.

It turned out my grandpa had deposit boxes where he kept his fortune, and they were all registered to me.

When I faced my ex-husband in the courtroom, where I testified against him for breaking into my home, I thanked him for telling me about the safe.

“Thanks to you, I am now a rich woman,” I said as I smiled at his face. “And you? I really hope your time in prison would teach you a lesson.”

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12-year-old dies after fatal allergic reaction to milkshake

By
Monica Pop
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Milkshake made in a dirty blender containing traces of nuts led to the tragic death of 12-year-old schoolgirl Mia-Shay St Hilaire, who suffered severe allergic reaction.

Her devastated parents say the tragedy could have been easily avoided had the London café followed safety regulations. This only added to their heartbreak.

As per BBC, Mia-Shay, who was allergic to tree nuts, visited the Pop Inn Café on Southwark Park Road, South-East London, and ordered milkshake. However, they prepared her order in the same blender they had previously made a drink containing almonds and hazelnuts.

Mia-Shay was rushed to the hospital where she sadly passed away.

The incident took place on August 30, 2023.

Pexels

Southwark Council’s food safety team launched an investigation in order to determine the circumstances preceding Mia-Shay’s fatal allergic reaction. They concluded that the blender used wasn’t washed before making Mia’s milkshake. As a result, traces of the nuts remained in it and ended in Mia’s drink.

CCTV footage from the café showed the worker, Baris Yucel, 47, failing to clean the blender.

The failure to follow the safety regulations directly contributed to the severe allergic reaction and the young girl’s passing.

On December 2024, Yucel admitted six criminal charges relating to the young girl’s tragic passing. Some included failure to provide allergen information for customers, failure to prevent cross-contamination during food preparation and serving food containing an undisclosed allergen.

Croydon Magistrates’ Court fined him £18,000 and gave him a 100-hour community order.

Mia-Shay’s parents said, “We think of Mia every day and knowing her death could potentially have been prevented so simply, only adds to how heartbroken we are as a family.

“We hope this conviction and fine sends a loud message to businesses serving food and drinks across the country, of the devastating consequences of failing to take food safety seriously.”

Yucel’s lawyer said “a day does not go by when he does not think about the child and her family.”

We are so very sorry for this devastating loss.

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Choir begins singing ‘Lone Ranger’ theme with backs to the crowd

By
Monica Pop
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If you believe a classical piece of music can’t have a touch of comedy added, then you’ve probably missed the masterpiece performance by the choir at Timpanogos High School.

These young people’s rendition of the classical The William Tell Overture, or widely known as the Lone Ranger, composed in the early 1800s by Gioachino Rossini, has long been talked about.

The memorable performance started with the members of the choir delivering the overture in perfect acappella before turning their backs to the crowd, with one of the singers facing the crowd, pretending she had forgotten the moves.

YouTube

This brought laughter from the audience, who were likely unaware of the show that was about to unfold before their eyes.

Just seconds later, the male members, dressed in formal attires, started their hilarious antics. They started galloping across the stage on imaginary horses and it wasn’t long before the girls joined them in and sent the audience into laughter.

YouTube

The carefully planned choreography, combined with humor and precision, shows that the choir perfectly rehearsed the show. It not only intended to entertain the audience but also to take the internet by storm.

As the finale of the performance approached, the members of the choir received a loud applause.

This is without a doubt one of the most unforgettable shows. It is definitely worth watching.

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Bored Daddy

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