Crew chief on Black Hawk involved in air crash in DC was Parkview alum, school’s MCJROTC says

Ryan O’Hara left behind a wife and 1-year-old son, the school organization said in a Facebook post.

 

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GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The crew chief aboard the Black Hawk involved in the mid-air crash in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night was an alum of Parkview High in Gwinnett County, according to the school’s MCJROTC.

The school organization identified Ryan O’Hara as a former cadet and Class of 2014 alum who was crew chief on the military helicopter that collided with a passenger jet as it approached landing at Reagan National Airport.

O’Hara had a wife and 1-year-old son, Parkview MCJROTC said.

RELATED: No survivors after American Airlines flight collides with military helicopter near DC, at least 28 bodies recovered

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of one of our own. Class of 2014, former cadet Ryan O’Hara was the Crew Chief on the Black Hawk involved in last nights crash in DC.,” Parkview MCJROTC posted on Facebook. “Our deepest condolences go out to Gary O’Hara and his entire family.”

The post added that O’Hara is “fondly remembered as a guy who would fix things around the ROTC gym as well as a vital member of the rifle team.”

Credit: Courtesy / Parkview MCJROTC

Gov. Brian Kemp also commented on O’Hara’s death as well as the first officer on the passenger flight, Sam Lilley, who has been identified by the NBC station in Savannah, WSAV.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of one of our own. Class of 2014, former cadet Ryan O’Hara was the…

Posted by Parkview MCJROTC on Thursday, January 30, 2025

Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter, as well as 60 passengers and four crew on the American Airlines jet involved in the crash.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the collision, but officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas. President Donald Trump called the crash “preventable” and suggested air traffic controllers were at fault in afternoon remarks on the air tragedy.

Officials said Thursday morning they have shifted to recovery operations and do not expect to find any survivors from the crash. At least 28 bodies have been recovered from the Potomac River, near Reagan National Airport.

The 67 dead would make Wednesday’s crash the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.


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