WASHINGTON, D.C. — Authorities have confirmed that Ryan O’Hara, a U.S. Army Black Hawk crew chief, was among those killed in the catastrophic midair collision over the Potomac River involving American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night. The crash has left no survivors and is now regarded as the deadliest aviation accident on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001.

O’Hara, a Gwinnett County, Georgia native, was a proud Parkview High School alum and a former cadet of the school’s Marine Corps JROTC program. He was remembered as a hardworking, dedicated individual who played a crucial role in the rifle team and was always eager to assist others.

In an emotional statement, his alma mater’s MCJROTC program wrote:

“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. 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. Our deepest condolences go out to his father, Gary O’Hara, his wife, and their 1-year-old son.”

The tragic accident took place at approximately 9:00 p.m., just minutes before American Eagle Flight 5342 was scheduled to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Victims Identified

So far, authorities have identified the following victims:

U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopter Crew

• Ryan O’Hara, Crew Chief
• Two additional Army personnel (names withheld pending notification of next of kin)

American Eagle Flight 5342 Crew

• Captain Jonathan Campos, 34 (Pilot in Command)
• First Officer Samuel Lilley, 29 (Co-Pilot)
• Flight Attendant Ian Epstein
• Flight Attendant Danasia Elder

American Eagle Flight 5342 Passengers (Confirmed victims among 60 passengers)

• Everly Livingston (U.S. figure skater)
• Lydia Livingston (U.S. figure skater)
• Vadim Naumov (Former Russian world champion figure skater, coach)
• Evgenia Shishkova (Former Russian world champion figure skater, coach)
• Sean Kay (Figure skating coach)
• Jinna Han (Competitive figure skater)
• Edward Zhou (Figure skating prodigy)
• Angela Yang (Figure skating judge)
• Franco Aparicio (Sports commentator, former skater)
• Inna Volyanskaya (Choreographer, former skater)

Authorities fear that many more prominent members of the U.S. and international figure skating communities were also aboard Flight 5342, which was transporting athletes, coaches, and officials returning from the National Development Camp following the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.

Timeline of the Collision

At 8:55 p.m., air traffic control at Reagan National Airport cleared Flight 5342, an Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet, for its final approach. Moments later, an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, conducting a routine training flight, was flying within the restricted military airspace near Washington, D.C..

At 8:58 p.m., just 400 feet above the Potomac River, the jetliner collided with the military aircraft, creating a fireball that was visible from miles away.

Eyewitness Accounts

D.C. resident Marcus Greer, who was fishing on the Potomac when the crash occurred, described the terrifying moment:

“I heard this crazy loud screech, looked up, and just saw a fireball in the sky. Then suddenly, there were pieces of metal everywhere, and the river was just glowing red from the explosion.”

Another witness, Anita Palmer, was driving near the airport and saw the crash unfold:

“It was like something out of a nightmare. The plane was on fire before it even hit the water. I could hear the sirens almost immediately. It was heartbreaking.”

Rescue and Recovery Efforts

Within minutes of the crash, the Washington D.C. Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, and local law enforcement agencies launched a massive rescue operation in the icy Potomac River.

By Thursday morning, at least 28 bodies had been recovered. By the afternoon, the number of confirmed fatalities had risen to 67.

The efforts soon transitioned from search-and-rescue to a recovery mission, as authorities no longer expected to find survivors.

Investigations Underway

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a full-scale investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Officials are focusing on air traffic control logs, radar data, and communications between pilots and controllers in the moments before the crash.

Authorities confirmed that weather conditions were clear at the time, ruling out turbulence or poor visibility as potential factors.

Reactions from Officials and Aviation Experts

Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the tragedy, stating:

“This was an absolutely preventable disaster. We need answers about how a military helicopter and a commercial passenger jet ended up on a collision course in restricted airspace. Air traffic controllers have some serious questions to answer.”

Aviation expert Robert Gaines, a retired Boeing 737 captain, expressed concerns about potential air traffic control failures:

“Washington, D.C., has some of the most controlled airspace in the world. The fact that a military helicopter and a passenger jet were in such close proximity means that something went terribly wrong in the coordination process.”

Figure Skating Community in Mourning

The International Skating Union (ISU) and U.S. Figure Skating issued statements expressing shock and sorrow at the immense loss of athletes, coaches, and officials:

“The figure skating world is devastated by this unspeakable tragedy. We mourn the loss of so many talented individuals who dedicated their lives to the sport. Their legacy will live on in the hearts of skaters everywhere.”

Russian President Dmitry Peskov also expressed condolences to the families of Russian skaters Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, calling their deaths “a profound loss to the international skating community.”

Conclusion

As families mourn and investigations continue, the aviation world is left grappling with one of the most devastating air disasters in U.S. history. With no survivors and 67 confirmed dead, the tragedy underscores the critical need for improved air traffic management, coordination, and safety measures to prevent future disasters.

Authorities expect to release further details in the coming days as the investigation into this unprecedented collision continues.