The co-pilot of the Black Hawk that crashed into a passenger plane, killing everyone on board in both aircraft, was a woman who was being evaluated at the time of the tragedy on Wednesday.
The female pilot has not been named but Fox News reported it was a woman with 500 hours of flying of experience, which is considered a ‘normal’ amount.
Both the instructor pilot in charge, identified as Chief Warrant Office 2 Andrew Eaves, and the female co-pilot were being evaluated during the flight and were familiar with the route.
Meanwhile the third person in the chopper, the crew chief, was named as Ryan O’Hara.
The midair collision between the Army helicopter and an American Airlines flight from Kansas killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft, officials said Thursday, as they scrutinized the actions of the military pilot after the country’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2001.
At least 28 bodies, including all three soldiers who were on the helicopter, have been pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac River as recovery operations continue on Friday.
Cockpit voice and flight data recorders have been recovered from the plane
‘NTSB investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the Bombardier CRJ700 airplane involved in yesterday’s midair collision at DCA,’ National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Peter Knudson said.
‘The recorders are at the NTSB labs for evaluation.’
Crew chief on Army chopper named as Ryan O’Hara
Ryan O’Hara from Georgia was on board the doomed helicopter when it plunged into the Potomac River on Wednesday night.
He was one of three Army soldiers on an annual proficiency training flight and is one of the 67 lives lost in the deadliest US plane crash since 2009.
O’Hara left behind a wife and a one-year-old son, and was remembered fondly by his his school.
Chief Warrant Officer 2, Andrew Eaves has been identified as the pilot in charge of Army chopper
Chief Warrant Officer 2, Andrew Eaves has been identified as the pilot on board the Black Hawk Army helicopter.
The beloved husband and father-of-two was one of three soldiers aboard the aircraft conducting a training operation.
His devastated wife, Carrie, said: ‘I am sure by now all of you have heard the news of the tragedy that has occurred in DC.
‘My husband was one of the pilots in the Blackhawk. We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today. We ask for peace while we grieve.’
She has shared several photos of Eaves, one of which he was in uniform, and asked her friends to share photos they may have of him in his memory.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed his death on Thursday night, taking to X to write: ‘Mississippi is mourning the loss of Brooksville native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, who was killed in last night’s accident at Reagan National Airport.’
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Black Hawk helicopter co-pilot was woman who was being evaluated at time of DC plane crash: Live updates
