CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Another victim who was on board an American Airlines flight when it crashed into a military helicopter in Washington, D.C. last week has been tied to metro Atlanta.
Brian Ellis, 53, graduated from Morrow High School in 1989 where he was the school’s star quarterback, Clayton County Public Schools confirmed on Monday. He went on to attend and graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy.
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“He was a young man who was friendly to all. He was kind. Had a great big smile, which was inviting,” said Larry Volman, Ellis’ former band director.
John Schofield, a spokesman for the Naval Academy Alumni Association, confirmed that Ellis went on to attend and graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland.
“Our hearts go out to all those who experienced loss through this devastating event,” said John Schofield, spokesman for the Naval Academy Alumni Association. “Among those on board was one of our own — Brian Ellis, a former Navy football player and proud graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and the entire Naval Academy community who mourns his passing.”
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Three soldiers were on the helicopter conducting a training flight while 64 passengers and crew members were on American Airlines Flight 5342, operated by PSA Airlines.
Two others killed in the crash have been connected to Georgia.
Ryan O’Hara, the crew chief on board the U.S. Army Black Hawk, and Sam Lilley, an American Airlines pilot who was serving as first officer on the flight, are among those who lost their lives.
O’Hara graduated from Lakeview High School in Gwinnett County. Lilley, who was recently engaged to be married, grew up near Savannah and graduated from Georgia Southern University.
President Donald Trump confirmed the NTSB, the U.S. military and other federal agencies would do a comprehensive investigation into the crash to “figure out exactly what happened.”
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