The U.S. Army has officially identified Captain Rebecca
Lobach of Durham, North Carolina, as the third soldier aboard the Sikorsky
UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines plane on
Wednesday night. The announcement came in a press release issued Saturday
afternoon after Lobach's family granted permission for her name to be released.
The crash, which occurred near Ronald Reagan Washington
National Airport in Washington, D.C., marked the first fatal commercial airline
accident in the United States since 2009. American Airlines Flight 5342 was
carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the Black Hawk had three
soldiers on board.
D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly stated that
authorities do not expect to find any survivors, shifting efforts at the crash
site from a rescue to a recovery operation.
During a press briefing, former President Donald Trump
speculated that the crash may have been influenced by Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion (DEI) practices in air traffic control and aviation training.
However, no evidence has been presented linking DEI policies to the incident.
Critics have also pointed out that many of the policies Trump referenced were
in place during his own presidency.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Army identified two of the three
soldiers aboard the Black Hawk as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O'Hara, 28, of
Lilburn, Georgia, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great
Mills, Maryland. Initially, the Army withheld Lobach’s name at the family's
request. O'Hara was classified as "believed to be deceased pending
positive identification," while Lobach and Eaves were listed as
"status-whereabouts unknown."
On Saturday at 5 p.m. ET, the Army confirmed Lobach’s
identity and released a statement from her family.
The U.S. Army provided details about Lobach’s service,
stating: "Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, served as an
aviation officer (15A) in the regular Army from July 2019 to January 2025. She
had no deployments and was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort
Belvoir, Virginia. Her awards included the Army Commendation Medal, Army
Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Army Service
Ribbon."
The Army expressed condolences, saying, "Our deepest
sympathies go out to her family and all those mourning the loss of their loved
ones in this devastating accident. We remain committed to supporting the
families of our fallen soldiers and assisting with the ongoing
investigations."
Lobach’s family also released a heartfelt statement:
"We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. She was a bright
star in our lives—kind, generous, brilliant, funny, ambitious, and strong. No
one dreamed bigger or worked harder to achieve their goals. We ask for privacy
as we grieve this profound loss."
Davis Winkie, a White House reporter for USA Today and a
personal friend of Lobach, paid tribute to her on social media, describing her
as "brilliant and fearless, a talented pilot and a PT standout." He
recalled their time training together in the ROTC program at the University of
North Carolina, where she was recognized as a distinguished military graduate
and ranked among the top 20% of cadets nationwide.
Lobach’s family further highlighted her achievements:
"Rebecca served twice as a Platoon Leader and as a Company Executive
Officer in the 12th Aviation Battalion at Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir.
With over 450 hours of flight experience, she earned certification as a
pilot-in-command after rigorous testing by senior pilots."
Beyond her military career, Lobach served as a White House
Military Social Aide, assisting in ceremonies such as the Medal of Honor and
Presidential Medal of Freedom presentations. She was also a certified Sexual
Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Victim Advocate and aspired
to become a physician after her military service. Her family quoted her as
saying, "My experiences with SHARP have reinforced my resolve to serve
others with compassion, understanding, and the resources necessary for healing."
"Rebecca was many things—a daughter, sister, partner,
and friend. She was a servant, a caregiver, and an advocate. Most of all, she
loved and was loved. Though her life was tragically cut short, she made a
lasting impact on everyone she met," the family concluded. "Our
hearts break for the other families mourning their loved ones in this national
tragedy."
The search for the remains of the three soldiers and the
missing passengers from American Airlines Flight 5342 continues, with
approximately 20 individuals still unaccounted for at this time.
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