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The DC plane crash has left everyone mourning the loss of as many as 64 people and three soldiers. One of the soldiers who died in the crash was Ryan O'Hara. The 28-year-old father has been mourning the death of his brave son but has also thanked first responders for recovering his son's body.
The midair collision happened on Wednesday in Washington. It happened after an Army helicopter flew into the path of a passenger jet plane when it was landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport. Nobody on the two aircraft survived the deadly crash.
Samuel Lilley was the first officer on the plane, while Ryan O'Hara was the crew chief. The other two soldiers who also died in the crash were Capt. Rebecca Lobach and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves.
O'Hara was a part of the 2014 class of Parkview Marine Corps JROTC at Parkview High School in Lilburn. In an interview with WXIA-TV, O'Hara's father, Gary O'Hara, expressed how it was painful for him to watch the footage of his son's body being recovered after the DC plane crash.
However, he lauded first responders for working round the clock.
"One thing that I did want to say and thank is all those first responders, the people that sacrificed themselves to jump into that ice cold water, to go through the plane and the wreckage that retrieved our son."
"There are no words to express our thanks for that. You helped bring our boy home," Gary O'Hara added.
Ryan O'Hara's father talks about the DC plane crash
Following the DC plane crash, Gary O'Hara mentioned that his son, the US Army Black Hawk pilot, was never concerned about the crowded skies. Moreover, in an interview with CBS, he added that his son's crew was "probably the most respected pilots that Ryan had ever flown with."
While it was a proud moment for O'Hara's parents to see soldiers saluting their son, it also crushed them.
"It's very touching to see the other soldiers saluting as they take him out with a draped flag over it."'
"But to sit there and think that that's my little boy — it's crushing," Gary O'Hara said.
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Gary further mentioned that DEI should not be blamed for the DC plane crash. Moreover, he argued that a soldier has to be qualified enough to land a spot on a Black Hawk.
He said, "You have to earn your spot to be moved into the ladder to be put into that helicopter," and added how these soldiers protect the country and "earn their stripes every single day."
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