ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A solider involved in the American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter has ties to Gwinnett County.

Ryan O’Hara, the crew chief on the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter involved in the crash at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington D.C., was part of the 2014 class of Parkview Marine Corps JROTC at Parkview High School in Lilburn.

“Our deepest condolences go out to Gary O’Hara and his entire family,” Parkview MCJROTC said in a Facebook post that has since been removed. “Ryan is fondly remembered as a guy who would fix things around the ROTC gym, as well as a vital member of the rifle team.”

Atlanta News First spoke with David Erwin, O’Hara’s former JROTC instructor, who said he had fond memories of the late crew chief.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp took to social media to offer condolences to O’Hara’s family, as well an American Airlines pilot from Savannah who was also identified as a victim in the crash.

“We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Ryan O’Hara and Sam Lilley as they navigate this difficult time,” Kemp wrote. “Both of these young Georgians shared a passion for flight and for serving others, and this terrible tragedy is that much more difficult knowing their lives were cut so unexpectedly short. Marty, the girls, and I ask that all Georgians join us in keeping their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”

The collision happened after the helicopter flew into the path of the jet late Wednesday as it was landing at the airport, the Associated Press reported.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Everyone aboard an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter is feared dead

The plane carried 60 passengers and four crew members. Three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.

All 64 people aboard an American Airlines jet are feared dead in what will likely be the worst U.S. aviation disaster in almost a quarter century, officials said Thursday.

Atlanta News First has reached out to Parkview High School for a statement.

Army: Crew of Blackhawk that crashed was ‘very experienced’

The crew that was flying the Army Blackhawk helicopter when it collided with an American Airlines jet was “very experienced” and were not new to the unit or the congested flying that occurs daily around Washington, D.C.

That is according to Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation.

“Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasn’t something new to either one of them,” Koziol said.

“Even the crew chief in the back has been in the unit for a very long time, very familiar with the area, very familiar with the routing structure.”

The crew included an instructor pilot and pilot in command were experienced to the point where either crew member “could manage that helicopter by themselves.”

The instructor pilot, who was serving as pilot-in-command, had about 1,000 flight hours, Koziol said. The instructor pilot was evaluating the second pilot — who was also qualified as a pilot in command — for that night training flight and the pilot who was being evaluated had about 500 flight hours, Koziol said.

All three military personnel on board were killed in the midair collision between their helicopter and an American Airlines passenger jet late Wednesday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport just outside Washington, D.C.

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