Female Black Hawk Pilot: The Army has chosen not to release the name of the female pilot who tragically lost her life in a collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on January 29. The Army revealed the identities of the other two soldiers who died in the crash but respected the family’s request to keep the female pilot’s name private.
According to the Army, Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, from Lilburn, Georgia, is believed to have passed away, pending confirmation. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, from Great Mills, Maryland, is still missing, and his status is listed as “Duty Status-Whereabouts Unknown” (DUSTWUN). The Army confirmed that the third soldier, the female pilot, is also DUSTWUN, but her name will not be shared in accordance with her family’s wishes.
US-India Defence Deals: Trump Administration Pushes for Stronger Military Ties
As per Hindustan Times, he pilot who has not been identified was an experienced military aviator with over 500 hours of flying experience. Jonathan Koziol, the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Aviation Directorate, shared this detail. The crew, including the unidentified female pilot, was described as “fairly experienced” by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
There were no issues with their experience, and Koziol dismissed claims that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies contributed to the crash, a theory even suggested by former President Donald Trump. He emphasized that both pilots had flown this route at night previously, so it was not a new or unfamiliar task for them.
In the aftermath of the crash, Maj. Gen. Trevor J. Bredenkamp, commander of Joint Task Force, National Capital Region/ U.S. Army Military District of Washington, expressed heartfelt condolences.
GRSE and Apollo Micro Systems Join Hands for Advanced Defence Solutions
He stated, “Our deepest condolences go out to all the families and friends impacted during this tragedy, and we will support them through this difficult time. Our top priority is to assist in the recovery efforts, while fully cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other investigative agencies to determine the cause of this tragic incident.”
