After withholding at the request of the family the identify of the feminine pilot killed within the mid-air collision Wednesday evening between an Military Black Hawk helicopter and a PSA/American Airways passenger aircraft on last strategy to Reagan Nationwide Airport close to Washington, D.C., the Military issued an announcement Saturday afternoon from her household figuring out the pilot as 28-year-old Capt. Rebecca Lobach from Durham, N.C.
The opposite two troopers killed within the crash beforehand recognized by the Military are Employees Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Nice Mills, Maryland.
Lobach was a part of a three-man crew flying a coaching mission for “continuity of presidency” down the Potomac River when the collision occurred, killing all three crew members on the Black Hawk based mostly at close by Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and all 60 passengers and 4 crew members on the flight out of Wichita, Kansas.
Lobach, who had over 450 hours of flying expertise, not too long ago served as a army social aide on the Biden White Home.
Final month, Capt. Lobach escorted dressmaker @RalphLauren on the White Home when he obtained his Presidential Medal of Freedom. https://t.co/GyTGMliwaI pic.twitter.com/fDMX5W3m40
— Jim LaPorta (@JimLaPorta) February 1, 2025
STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY of Capt Rebecca Lobach, the Military Blackhawk co-pilot:
“We’re devastated by the lack of our beloved Rebecca. She was a vivid star in all our lives. She was variety, beneficiant, sensible, humorous, formidable and robust. Nobody dreamed larger or labored more durable to attain her targets.
Rebecca started her profession in the USA Military as a distinguished army graduate in ROTC on the College of North Carolina, and was within the prime 20% of cadets nationwide. She achieved the rank of Captain, having twice served as a Platoon Chief and as a Firm Govt Officer within the twelfth Aviation Battalion, Davison Military Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. With greater than 450 hours of flight time, she earned certification as a pilot-in-command after in depth testing by probably the most senior and skilled pilots in her battalion.
Rebecca was a warrior and wouldn’t hesitate to defend her nation in battle. However she was as swish as she was fierce: along with her duties as an Military aviator, Rebecca was honored to function a White Home Navy Social Aide, volunteering to assist the President and First Woman in internet hosting numerous White Home occasions, together with ceremonies awarding the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rebecca cared about folks, and she or he prolonged to people the identical fearless protection she gave to this nation. She was happy with the distinction she made as a licensed Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Sufferer Advocate and hoped to proceed her schooling so she might serve this nation as a doctor when her time with the Military ended. She as soon as stated, “My experiences with SHARP have bolstered my resolve to serve others with compassion, understanding, and the assets crucial for therapeutic.”
Rebecca was many issues. She was a daughter, sister, accomplice, and good friend. She was a servant, a caregiver, an advocate. Most of all, she cherished and was cherished. Her life was brief, however she made a distinction within the lives of all who knew her. Our hearts break for the opposite households who’ve misplaced family members on this nationwide tragedy and we mourn with them.
We request that you simply please respect our privateness as we grieve this devastating loss.”
Davis Winkle, who served within the College of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Military ROTC with Lobach and later grew to become a reporter for USA Immediately, posted concerning the lack of his good friend on X (excerpt):
I’m heartbroken to share that my good friend Capt. Rebecca Lobach died in Wednesday night’s crash close to DC’s Nationwide Airport.
Rebecca was sensible and fearless, a proficient pilot and a PT stud. We educated and commissioned collectively from @UNCArmyROTC, and we had loads of enjoyable alongside the way in which, too.
We have been each latecomers to the ROTC program, enrolling partway by way of the third yr, and rapidly bonded over being the brand new children on the block.
…Rebecca performed a vital position in serving to me navigate the toughest intervals of my private life. Our good friend group sustained me and saved me engaged when each fiber of my being needed to simply go numb to this world. I owe her a lot.
We stayed in contact after she commissioned as an lively responsibility Black Hawk pilot, and I as an HR officer within the NC Military Nationwide Guard. After I went into journalism, she would name me after I wrote a humorous or attention-grabbing story.
I want we’d taken a photograph collectively once we had lunch a yr in the past. I want I’d remembered to ask her to a celebration I hosted per week in the past. I want she weren’t lifeless.
You might be so missed, Rebecca. This world gained’t be the identical with out you.
I’m heartbroken to share that my good friend Capt. Rebecca Lobach died in Wednesday night’s crash close to DC’s Nationwide Airport.
Rebecca was sensible and fearless, a proficient pilot and a PT stud. We educated and commissioned collectively from @UNCArmyROTC, and we had loads of enjoyable alongside… pic.twitter.com/ZaKgWssdSI
— Davis Winkie (@davis_winkie) February 1, 2025
