The crew chief and one of many pilots of the doomed Military Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airways passenger jet over Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport on Wednesday have been recognized.
The spouse of Chief Warrant Workplace 2 Andrew Eaves, of Mississippi, confirmed his dying on social media.
“I’m positive by now all of you may have heard the information of the tragedy that has occurred in DC,” she wrote on Fb. “My husband was one of many pilots within the Blackhawk. We ask that you simply pray for our household and pals and for all the opposite households which can be struggling at this time. We ask for peace whereas we grieve.”
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves stated the state was mourning the lack of Eaves.
“Mississippi is mourning the lack of Brooksville native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, who was killed in final evening’s accident at Reagan Nationwide Airport,” Reeves wrote on X. “Elee and I are praying for the victims’ households and first responders who’re aiding.”
AMERICAN AIRLINES CEO EXPRESSES ‘DEEP SORROW’ AFTER MIDAIR COLLISION
Chief Warrant Workplace 2 Andrew Eaves, of Mississippi, was recognized as one of many pilots of the doomed Military Black Hawk. (U.S. Armed Forces)
The crew chief on the helicopter was recognized as Ryan O’Hara.
“Ryan is fondly remembered as a man who would sort things across the ROTC gymnasium in addition to an important member of the Rifle Workforce. Ryan leaves behind a spouse and 1-year-old son,” the Parkview Excessive College JROTC in Georgia wrote on Fb.
O’Hara was one in every of three troopers on the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk on the time of the catastrophe.
The teacher pilot in cost who was flying the helicopter had 1,000 flying hours – which is taken into account “very skilled,” Fox Information has realized. Most flights are on common two hours in size.
AMERICAN AIRLINES CEO EXPRESSES ‘DEEP SORROW’ AFTER MIDAIR COLLISION
Search and rescue efforts are seen round a wreckage web site within the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport, early Thursday morning on Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photograph)
The co-pilot had 500 flying hours, which is taken into account a “regular” quantity of expertise. Fox Information is advised the co-pilot was a girl. Each the teacher pilot in cost and the co-pilot have been being evaluated through the flight, and have been aware of the world and route, Fox Information is advised.
Army and different authorities helicopters fly this route virtually each day, in response to a senior Military pilot and warrant officer.
In accordance with a senior U.S. protection official, one set of stays from the troopers on the Black Hawk have been recovered Thursday afternoon.
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the American individuals following the lethal collision, saying the crash occurred whereas the Black Hawk was on an annual proficiency coaching flight.
“We do know on our facet who was concerned. It was a reasonably skilled crew, and that was doing a required annual evening analysis,” Hegseth stated in a video assertion obtained completely by Fox Information. “We anticipate that the investigation will rapidly have the ability to decide whether or not the plane was within the quarter on the proper altitude on the time of the incident.”
“It is a tragedy, a horrible lack of life for these 64 souls on that civilian airliner. And naturally, the three troopers in that Black Hawk. They’re in our prayers, their households and their communities as persons are notified,” Hegseth added.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp took to social media to share extra in regards to the victims of the tragedy.
“We ship our deepest condolences to the households and pals of Ryan O’Hara and Sam Lilley as they navigate this troublesome time,” he wrote on X. “Each of those younger Georgians shared a ardour for flight and for serving others, and this horrible tragedy is that rather more troublesome figuring out their lives have been lower so unexpectedly quick. Marty, the women, and I ask that each one Georgians be a part of us in preserving their family members in our ideas and prayers.”
Lilley was one of many crew members aboard the American Airways regional jet, his father, Timothy Lilley, advised FOX 5 Atlanta.
DC PLANE CRASH TIMELINE: MIDAIR COLLISION INVOLVES 67 PASSENGERS, CREW MEMBERS, SOLDIERS
On Wednesday, round 9:00 PM native time, the FAA issued a floor cease at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport after a army helicopter with three troopers collided with a civilian airplane carrying 60 passengers and 4 crew members.
In a press convention on Thursday morning, DC Fireplace and EMS Chief John A. Donnelly introduced practically 30 our bodies had been recovered from the scene of the collision thus far. At the moment, authorities don’t imagine there are any survivors, Donnelly added.
“We have now recovered 27 individuals from the airplane and one from the helicopter,” he added. “Regardless of all these efforts, we at the moment are at a degree the place we’re switching from a rescue operation to a restoration operation.”
A part of the wreckage is seen as rescue boats search the waters of the Potomac River after a airplane on method to Reagan Nationwide Airport crashed into the river close to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2025. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP through Getty Photos)
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser thanked first responders for working in a “very frigid” river by way of the evening in what began as a search and rescue mission, which is now a restoration mission.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was sworn-in hours earlier than the collision, vowed to get solutions on behalf of the collision victims’ households and the American individuals. Duffy famous that the collision occurred on a transparent evening and that each the airplane and helicopter have been in “commonplace” patterns.
“Security is our expectation. Everybody who flies in American skies expects that we fly safely, that whenever you depart an airport, you get to your vacation spot. That didn’t occur final evening,” Duffy stated. Duffy believes that the proof thus far signifies that the collision might have “completely” been prevented.
The American Airways flight from Wichita, Kansas collided in midair with a army helicopter whereas approaching Ronald Reagan Nationwide Airport. In accordance with reviews, there have been no survivors among the many 67 individuals on board each plane. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Photos)
AMERICAN FIGURE SKATER SAYS HE WAS BARRED FROM FLIGHT THAT COLLIDED WITH ARMY HELICOPTER
In a blunt Reality Social submit, President Donald Trump referred to as the crash “a foul scenario that appears prefer it ought to have been prevented.”
Shortly after the collision, Vice President JD Vance urged individuals to “say a prayer for everybody concerned.”
