U.S. Army Pilot Rebecca Lobach, 28, Identified as Third Soldier on Black Hawk Helicopter in D.C. Plane Crash

U.S. Army Pilot Rebecca Lobach, aged 28, has recently been identified as the third soldier on board the helicopter involved in the tragic crash with a passenger plane in Washington, D.C. The Army has confirmed that Captain Rebecca Lobach was originally from Durham, North Carolina, and was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She had been in service since July 2019. The decision to withhold her name initially was at the request of her family, but is now being released in coordination with the family, according to an Army statement.

A close friend of Lobach, 1st Lt. Samantha Brown, revealed to CBS News that Lobach had also served as a White House social aide during President Joe Biden’s administration. She escorted fashion designer Ralph Lauren through the White House in January as he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Prior to her military service, Lobach attended Sewanee: The University of the South, where she played basketball, and later obtained a degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019, where she was a distinguished military graduate. She joined the North Carolina Army National Guard in December 2018 while still in college.

Many of Lobach’s friends and colleagues in the Army have expressed their sadness at her passing, remembering her as a dedicated captain and a compassionate friend. Captain Bilal Kordab, who recruited Lobach, praised her accomplishments, stating, “Not only did she deserve what she achieved, but she was overqualified most of the time for what she was able to accomplish.” Lt. Brown also shared fond memories of Lobach as a passionate reader, a strong athlete, and someone who was deeply committed to her work. She had recently proudly attained the rank of captain a year ago.

Additionally, it was revealed that Lobach was a certified victim advocate with the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program. The Army had previously identified the other two soldiers on the helicopter as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves and Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, who was the crew chief of the helicopter. The tragic incident occurred when the Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines flight over the Potomac River as the passenger plane was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on the 29th of January.

The crash, which claimed the lives of three soldiers on the helicopter and 64 individuals on the airplane, is considered one of the most deadly aircraft incidents since 2001. The collision resulted in both aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River, and all 67 passengers on board are presumed to have perished. The identification of Rebecca Lobach came after controversial comments made by President Donald Trump regarding the diversity, equity, and inclusion policies of the government in relation to the crash, a sentiment that has been refuted by those who knew and admired Lobach.

Friends and colleagues of Lobach have emphasized remembering her for the positive impact she had on others and her exemplary service rather than political discourse. The loss of Captain Rebecca Lobach has left a void in the hearts of those who knew her, and her memory will undoubtedly live on through the stories and tributes shared by those who had the privilege of knowing her.