Identification Made for Third Soldier in Black Hawk Helicopter Crash in DC – One America News Network
OAN Staff Abril Elfi
3:54 PM – Sunday, February 2, 2025
The Army has confirmed that Capt. Rebecca Lobach was the third soldier on board the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines flight, resulting in the tragic loss of all lives on board.
Advertisement
According to a press release from the Army, Lobach, hailing from Durham, North Carolina, had been an aviation officer since July 2019 and accumulated approximately 500 hours of flight experience in the Black Hawk.
The family of the victim initially requested that her identity remain confidential amid claims that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) factors were involved in the accident.
The Army released a statement from Lobach’s family expressing their profound grief, stating, “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. She was a bright star in all our lives. Kind, generous, brilliant, funny, ambitious, and strong—she dreamed big and worked tirelessly to achieve her goals.”
Lobach was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and had received several honors, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon, as noted by the Army.
Additionally, Lobach served as a White House military social aide during the Biden administration, as reported by CBS News through a friend.
Earlier, the identities of Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, Lobach’s co-pilot, were disclosed on Thursday.
Their helicopter was involved in a collision with an American Airlines regional flight that was landing at Reagan from Wichita, Kansas, on the evening of Wednesday while the soldiers were conducting a training mission, resulting in the deaths of all 64 individuals on the plane and three from the helicopter.
The circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation.
“Our deepest condolences go out to her family, along with all the families grieving the loss of their loved ones affected by this tragic incident. We remain committed to assisting the families of our fallen soldiers and are supporting the ongoing investigations,” said the Army.
Stay updated! Get breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
Advertisements below