The father of slain Black Hawk pilot Ryan O'Hara shares his grief and defends his son's qualifications in an emotional interview following the deadly air crash.
The father of U.S. Army Black Hawk pilot Ryan O'Hara shared his grief and disbelief in an emotional interview with CBS News . Gary O'Hara spoke from his home in Georgia, less than 48 hours after the tragic accident where his son's helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger jet, marking the worst air disaster in the nation in over a decade.
He described the overwhelming sorrow of witnessing his son's body being recovered from the Potomac River and the agonizing reality of his son's death playing out before a national audience. Gary O'Hara fiercely defended his son's qualifications and the professionalism of the entire Army crew involved. He emphasized that no soldier, including Ryan, was simply handed a spot on a Black Hawk. Each earned their place through rigorous training and dedication. He expressed anger at attempts to politicize the tragedy, particularly linking the crash to 'DEI' initiatives, stating that these distractions only compounded the family's pain.Ryan O'Hara, a 29-year-old native of Atlanta, joined the Army at 18, drawn to the opportunity to work on Black Hawks. He served in Afghanistan before being assigned to Fort Belvoir in Virginia, where he lived with his wife and one-year-old son. His father recalled how much Ryan loved flying over Washington, D.C. at night, often sending photos and messages about the city's beauty. Gary O'Hara admitted to being relieved when his son was stationed in Virginia, feeling a sense of security knowing he was on American soil. He expressed his deep worry upon hearing about the crash, immediately sensing its connection to his son despite the numerous soldiers operating Black Hawks in the area. The subsequent confirmation of his fears by two Army soldiers at his doorstep left him shattered. Gary O'Hara, still grappling with the unimaginable pain of the past two days, believes the crash was a horrific accident, a matter of seconds determining the tragic outcome
Black Hawk Crash Ryan O'hara Army Pilot Potomac River Air Disaster DEI Military Family Tragedy
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