Additional Coverage:
A Georgia father is mourning the loss of his son, Army Black Hawk crew chief Ryan O’Hara, who died in Wednesday’s helicopter crash into an American Airlines jet over the Potomac River. Gary O’Hara described his son’s love for flying over the nation’s capital, often sharing photos of the illuminated monuments at night. He said Ryan never expressed concerns about the busy airspace.
The grieving father spoke about the pain of watching his son’s body being recovered from the river on television. He expressed gratitude for the soldiers who saluted as the flag-draped remains were carried to a hearse, but acknowledged the devastating realization that it was his son.
Ryan, 28, grew up near Atlanta and joined his high school’s ROTC. He enlisted in the Army at 18, drawn to the opportunity to work on Black Hawks.
After serving in Afghanistan, he was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, living near Washington with his wife and young son. His father admitted to feeling a sense of relief when Ryan returned from overseas.
Gary O’Hara described a gut feeling that his son was involved in the crash as soon as he saw the news. He tried texting Ryan, but the message wouldn’t send. A late-night call from his daughter-in-law confirmed their worst fears, officially confirmed the next morning by Army personnel.
He criticized attempts to link the crash to diversity hiring practices, emphasizing that all soldiers who crew Black Hawks are highly qualified and earn their positions. He believes the crash was a tragic accident of timing.