Two of the three soldiers believed to have died in the devastating collision between a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and an American Eagle flight have been identified.
The crash, which occurred Wednesday night near Reagan National Airport, resulted in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both aircraft, officials confirmed Thursday.
Among the victims were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves and Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara, both stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
The third soldier, whose name has not been released at the family’s request, remains listed as duty status—whereabouts unknown (DUSTWUN) as search efforts continue.
Honoring Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew
Originally from Mississippi but residing in Maryland, Andrew Eaves dedicated his life to military service. He served 10 years in the U.S. Navy before transitioning to the U.S. Army in 2017 to become a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot.
Throughout his distinguished career, he received multiple commendations, including:
- Army Commendation Medal (three times)Navy Commendation Medal
- Army Achievement Medal
- Navy Achievement Medal (three times)
His family shared a heartfelt statement expressing their grief: “Andrew was a kind, loving, and patriotic man. He loved his wife and children fiercely and would have done anything to take care of them. He was a devoted son, a cherished brother, and the life of every room he entered. He was a true American hero and will be deeply missed by everyone lucky enough to have known him.”
Remembering Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara
Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara, originally from Georgia, was an experienced helicopter repairer who had served in the Army since 2014. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2017 and played a crucial role in maintaining Black Hawk helicopters.
His awards include:
- Army Commendation Medal with “C” Device (for combat service)
- Army Achievement Medal (four times)Senior Aviation Badge
O’Hara’s expertise ensured that Black Hawk helicopters remained mission-ready, enabling pilots like Eaves to complete their operations safely.Investigation and Military Response.
According to the Army, the UH-60 Black Hawk involved in the crash belonged to Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, based at Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir.
The aircraft was conducting a training flight at the time of the collision.Maj. Gen. Trevor J. Bredenkamp, commander of Joint Task Force–National Capital Region/U.S. Army Military District of Washington, expressed condolences in a statement:
“Our deepest sympathies go out to all the families and friends affected by this tragedy. We are committed to supporting them through this difficult time. Our top priority is assisting 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.”
Search and recovery efforts remain ongoing.
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