Local News
Crew Chief on Black Hawk helicopter killed in mid-air collision identified as Ryan O’Hara
Ryan O’Hara, a crew chief aboard the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the tragic midair collision over Washington, D.C., has been identified as one of the soldiers killed in the crash.
O’Hara, a Parkview High School alum from Gwinnett County, Georgia, leaves behind a wife and a 1-year-old son.
The accident, which occurred Wednesday night, involved an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and American Eagle Flight 5342, a regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.
The two aircraft collided at approximately 400 feet above the Potomac River as the passenger jet was making its approach to Reagan National Airport.
O’Hara’s alma mater, Parkview High School’s MCJROTC program, paid tribute to him in an emotional statement, describing him as a dedicated cadet and rifle team member who was always willing to help others.
“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 night’s crash in D.C.,” the organization wrote in a social media post.
They extended condolences to O’Hara’s family, specifically mentioning his father, Gary O’Hara, and reflecting on his contributions to the program: “Ryan was fondly remembered as a guy who would fix things around the ROTC gym, as well as a vital member of the rifle team.”
O’Hara was among the three soldiers aboard the Black Hawk when it collided with the PSA Airlines-operated regional jet, which was arriving from Wichita, Kansas.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash, though they confirmed that weather conditions were clear at the time of the collision.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators are reviewing air traffic control communications and flight data to understand the sequence of events leading up to the accident.
During remarks on Thursday afternoon, former President Donald Trump called the crash “preventable”, suggesting that air traffic controllers may have been responsible.
Meanwhile, recovery efforts continue in the Potomac River, where at least 28 bodies have been recovered as of Thursday morning.
Officials have transitioned from a search-and-rescue mission to a recovery operation, stating they do not expect to find any additional survivors.
With a confirmed death toll of 67, this incident marks the deadliest aviation disaster on U.S. soil since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Further updates are expected as investigations proceed.
Local News
Cessna Aircraft Crashes Into Field During Takeoff Attempt in Batavia, Ohio; Instructor and Student Reportedly Uninjured
BATAVIA, Ohio (Clermont County) — A Cessna aircraft went down into a field after an unsuccessful takeoff attempt near Sporty’s Pilot Shop in Batavia, Ohio, according to preliminary incident information.
Both occupants, a flight instructor and a student pilot, reportedly escaped the incident without injuries.
The aircraft crash was reported near 2001 Sporty’s Drive in Batavia, in Clermont County. Initial information indicates that the Cessna failed to take off and went down into a nearby field.
Two people were aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident. They were identified in the initial report as a flight instructor and a student pilot.
Both occupants reportedly exited the aircraft and were reported to be uninjured. According to the preliminary information, they were being transported back to Sporty’s Pilot Shop following the incident.
No injuries were reported in the information provided, although further official confirmation may be needed.
The incident occurred in the area of Sporty’s Drive in Batavia, a community in Clermont County, Ohio. The aircraft reportedly entered a field after failing to become airborne during its takeoff attempt.
Details about the aircraft’s condition, the precise circumstances of the failed takeoff and whether emergency crews or aviation investigators responded were not immediately available in the initial report.
The cause of the incident has not been established, and no additional information about possible damage to the aircraft was provided.
This is a developing story. Further details may become available as authorities confirm the circumstances surrounding the incident.