Army Identifies 2 Soldiers on Black Hawk Helicopter During D.C. Plane Crash but Withholds Third Name

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves; Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara.Photo:U.S. Army (2)

U.S. Army (2)

The names of two of the three soldiers who were on the U.S. Army helicopter thatcollided with an American Airlines flighton have been released.

In anews releaseshared on Friday, Jan. 31, the Army identified one of the soldiers as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, adding that he “is believed to be deceased pending positive identification.”

The second soldier was identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, whose body has yet to be recovered.

The name of the third soldier has been withheld at the present time at the request of the family, said the Army. That soldier’s remains have also yet to be recovered.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a previously press conference on Thursday, Jan. 30, that the three soldiers were a young Captain, a staff Sergeant and a CW2 Chief Warrant Officer who were on “aroutine annual retraining night flightson a standard corridor for a Continuity of Government mission.”

Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia.U.S. Army

U.S. Army

The military branch said that O’Hara, of Lilburn, Georgia, served as a UH-60 helicopter repairer (15T) in the Army from July 2014. He was deployed to Afghanistan from March 2017 to August 2017.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star; NATO Medal; Aviation Badge; and Senior Aviation Badge.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland.U.S. Army

Hailing from Great Mills, Maryland, Eaves served as a UH-60 pilot for the Army since September 2017, according to the military branch. Before that, he was in the U.S. Navy for 10 years beginning in August 2007. Among his awards include the Army Commendation Medal x3; Navy Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon; and Army Aviator Badge.

“Mississippi is mourning the loss of Brooksville native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, who was killed in last night’s accident at Reagan National Airport,” Reeves wrote onX.. “Elee and I are praying for the victims’ families and first responders who are assisting.”

As of Jan. 31,the bodies of 41 victims have been recovered from the water, and 28 of them have been positively identified, according to officials.

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source: people.com