Mississippi Black Hawk pilot killed in DC plane-helicopter crash

By Rachel Greco

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Mississippi Black Hawk pilot killed in DC plane-helicopter crash

A Mississippi man was among those killed in a Wednesday evening crash in Washington, D.C. that involved a commercial airliner and a Blackhawk helicopter.

Multiple news outlets, including the Macon Beacon, are reporting Andrew Eaves’ death as a Blackhawk pilot. The Beacon reported that Eaves is a Noxubee County native.

Eaves’ wife, Carrie Eaves, announced the news in a Facebook post.

“We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today,” she said in an email.

No one on the plane or helicopter survived the crash.

The crash occurred shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday, when American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, attempted to land and collided with the Blackhawk helicopter in midair. According to USA TODAY, a passenger plane carrying 64 people and a helicopter carrying three soldiers crashed into the Potomac River.

Army officials announced Wednesday that recovery efforts are continuing while the National Transportation Safety Board conducts an investigation into the crash.

“Our deepest condolences go out to all the families and friends impacted during this tragedy, and we will support them through this difficult time,” Maj. Gen. Trevor J. Bredenkamp, commander of Joint Task Force-National Capital Region/U.S. Army Military District of Washington, said in a news release.

“Our top priority is to assist in the recovery efforts, while fully cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other investigative agencies to determine the cause of this tragic incident.”

According to the Army, the Blackhawk from the 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, collided with the American Airlines jet while on a training mission.

This is Mississippi’s second major tragedy in the last month. A terrorist attack killed two Mississippians on January 1 during a New Year’s celebration in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

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Rachel Greco

Rachel Greco covers life in US County, including the communities of Grand Ledge, Delta Township, Charlotte and US Rapids. But her beat extends to local government, local school districts and community events in communities that surround Lansing. Her goal is to tell compelling stories about the area that matter to local readers.

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