Father of Ryan O'Hara, soldier killed in DC crash, thanks first responders for bringing son’s body home

WASHINGTON, DC: The grief is still raw for Gary O’Hara, who is mourning the loss of his son — Staff Sgt Ryan Austin O’Hara — one of the three US Army soldiers killed in the tragic Black Hawk helicopter collision with an American Airlines flight near Washington, DC last week.

As investigators continue to analyze the devastating crash, Gary is focused on honoring his son’s legacy and setting the record straight.

Heartbroken father Gary O’Hara speaks out

Speaking with CBS News, he described his son’s fellow crew members as exceptional pilots, the kind of soldiers Ryan had the utmost trust in every time he flew. "Probably the most respected pilots that Ryan had ever flown with," he said. "He trusted them with his life."

Ryan, 28, was one of 67 people who lost their lives in the tragic accident, along with Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves and Capt. Rebecca Lobach, the two other soldiers aboard the Black Hawk, People reported.

In the wake of the crash, some were quick to point fingers at the government’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, even speculating that they played a role in the aviation disaster.

But Gary firmly dismissed those claims. "You have to earn your spot to be moved into the ladder to be put into that helicopter. They don't just give it to you," he said. “All of those soldiers that protect us, they earn their stripes every single day.”

Ryan had spent nearly a decade in service, joining the Army in July 2014 as a UH-60 helicopter repairer (15T). He earned several military honors over the years, including the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, NATO Medal, Aviation Badge, and Senior Aviation Badge.

In 2017, Ryan was deployed to Afghanistan and served there from March to August before returning home.

Ryan O'Hara was a husband and a father

Ryan O' Hara was also a husband and a father to a one-year-old son. His father recalled the agonizing hours after the crash – how he frantically tried to reach Ryan, only for his texts to go unanswered. "As soon as I heard what happened, I texted my son, but the message didn't go through," he said.

The sinking feeling grew when Ryan’s wife called, telling him that she was growing increasingly worried. But the family still held onto hope in those early moments.

The worst was confirmed the next morning, when Army soldiers arrived at Ryan’s wife’s home to deliver the heartbreaking news. "It's really like your worst nightmare," Gary said. "Sixty seconds earlier or later, there's no accident."

Gary also expressed gratitude to the first responders who risked their own safety to recover his son’s body.

Speaking to NBC affiliate WXIA-TV, he said that watching footage of Ryan’s body being pulled from the wreckage was incredibly painful, but knowing that there were brave men and women working tirelessly to bring his son home offered some solace.

"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," he said. "There are no words to express our thanks for that. You helped bring our boy home."

The tragedy now stands as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in US history - the worst since November 2001, when an American Airlines plane crashed into a New York City harbor and claimed 265 lives.