Additional Coverage:
Days after a deadly mid-air collision between an Army helicopter and a commercial airliner near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the Army is withholding the identity of the Black Hawk pilot.
The two other soldiers on board have been identified as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves.
The Army stated the pilot’s family requested her name not be released.
This follows earlier comments by former President Trump, who publicly blamed the helicopter pilot for the crash shortly after the incident, which claimed 67 lives. He questioned why the helicopter didn’t maneuver to avoid the airplane, citing clear night conditions and the plane’s visible lights.
Trump and his team also suggested Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring practices within the military may have contributed to the accident. The Army has not responded to these claims.