A female pilot aboard the Army helicopter involved in the Washington DC plane crash has still not been named as officials refused to identify her. The Black Hawk was carrying three soldiers on a training exercise when it collided with the passenger jet on Wednesday night, with 67 killed. Two personnel aboard the helicopter have already been named as Sgt. Ryan Austin O'Hara, 28, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39.

However, the Army said it would not be naming the third woman killed in the tragedy at the request of her family. In a brief statement on the Army Public Affairs website, they wrote: “At the request of the family, the name of the third Soldier will not be released at this time.”. The unidentified solider was reported to have been an experienced pilot with more than 500 hours of flying experience, The Telegraph reports, citing aviation chief of staff Jonathan Koziol. The Black Hark and plane both crashed and plunged into the Potomac River on Saturday night in a devastating collision which remains under investigation.

A total of 60 passengers and four crew were on board the American Airlines flight, with no reports of any survivors. A recovery mission is ongoing for the bodies of the victims, with both Eaves and the unnamed female pilot yet to be found. Instructor pilot Eaves had banked more than 1,000 hours of flight time, Mr Koziol said. In a press conference on Thursday, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth described the three as "fairly experienced". Mr Koziol also tossed out suggestions by President Donald Trump that DEI (Diversity, Equality and Inclusion) policies had been to blame for the crash.

In a press briefing, the recently re-elected Trump claimed without evidence that standards lowered under the Biden administration were to blame for the crash. When asked by reporters why he was attributing the crash, which remains under investigation, to DEI policies, he retorted: "Because I have common sense.". The comments have since been blasted by number of disabilities rights groups including the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), describing them as "irresponsible, disparaging, and wrong". "The president is deliberately spreading falsehoods to demonize the quarter of American adults who live with disabilities rather than directing federal resources towards ensuring such a devastating tragedy never happens again," said AAPD president Maria Town.

Major General Trevor J. Bredenkamp said in a statement: “Our deepest condolences go out to all the families and friends impacted during this tragedy, and we will support them through this difficult time.” A number of tributes meanwhile have flooded in for those who were aboard flight 5342 on Wednesday, with children tragically confirmed among the casualties. Several figure skaters - including Russian champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov - were on the flight from Wichita, Kansas, when it crashed mid-air on approach to runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport. Heartbroken figure skater Audrey Shin paid tribute to 13-year-old Jinna Han who had been on board, describing her as her "baby skating sister".