WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Army on Friday made a highly unusual decision at the request of the family not to release the name of one of the three soldiers killed when a military Black Hawk collided with a passenger jet on Wednesday evening.
The Army identified two of the soldiers killed as Staff Sergeant Ryan Austin O’Hara and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, but did not provide details about the third.
Reuters had reported on Thursday that the crew of the Black Hawk involved in the deadly crash with an American Airlines regional passenger jet included two male soldiers and one female soldier.
“At the request of the family, the name of the third Soldier will not be released at this time,” an Army statement said.
President Donald Trump has suggested, without evidence, that the deadly midair collision was the result of the Federal Aviation Administration’s efforts to hire a more diverse workforce.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, while at the White House speaking about the crash on Thursday, also took aim at diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the military and government.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)
Comments