The mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter is believed to have left 67 people dead. While the US Army disclosed the names of two of the military members who were onboard the helicopter, they won’t publicly identify the name of the third pilot.
On January 31, two days after the tragic crash, the US Army issued a statement on their website. They wrote that the United States Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed “while performing a training mission near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.”
Further, it explained that “the UH-60 helicopter from the 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Va., collided in midair with an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet Flight 5342 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.”
The U.S. Army has identified one of the military members involved in the crash as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, from Lilburn, Georgia
The other pilot, whose body has not yet been recovered, therefore is duty status-whereabouts unknown (DUSTWUN), is identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland.
As of the third crew member of the US Army helicopter that plummeted into the Potomac River, the identity remains undisclosed at the request of the family.
“That pilot is also DUSTWUN,” the army said.
The tragic crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the US Army and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“The NTSB will lead the investigation. We are working with local officials and will provide any additional information once it becomes available,” the US Army stated.
As per the New York Post, the third Black Hawk pilot, whose identity remains unknown, was female.
Citing Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff of the army’s aviation directorate, the Telegraph reported that the unidentified military member was an experienced pilot with over 500 hours of flight time.
The decision by the Army not to reveal the name of the third pilot flying the Black Hawk caused a stir among the public. Many question if there is more to the story than what they present to the people.
As per Newsweek, Kyle Becker, “Independent thinker,” wrote on X: “‘At the request of the family, the name of the third Soldier will not be released at this time.’ The U.S. Army is still declining to release the name of the female Blackhawk helicopter pilot at the family’s request. This is extremely odd. It is only going to fuel more suspicion that military policies may have played a role in the crash.
“The public seems to have a right to know in this case, since the story has become a national policy matter. Do you believe the Army should release the name of the pilot?”
Conservative country singer John Rich questioned on X about the reason the White House is withholding the name of the Blackhawk pilot.
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