The U.S. Army has identified Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach as the third soldier killed in a helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport. The Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet during a nighttime training mission.
The U.S. Army has identified the third soldier who died in a helicopter mid-air collision with a commercial jet near Reagan National Airport Wednesday during a nighttime training mission. Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, N.C., is the latest victim identified in what’s become the deadliest U.S. air disaster in decades. The names of the two other soldiers were released on Friday, but Lobach’s name was withheld at the time at the request of her family. Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, N.C.
, served as an Army aviation officer since July 2019. Her awards include an Army commendation medal and an achievement medal. In a statement released by the Army, her family said she was a distinguished military graduate in ROTC at the University of North Carolina, and was in the top 20% of cadets nationwide. They said she had more than 450 hours of flight time, and earned 'certification as a pilot-in-command after extensive testing by the most senior and experienced pilots in her battalion.' The family also noted that she served as a certified sexual harassment/assault response and prevention victim advocate and hoped to become a physician when she got out of the Army. 'We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. She was a bright star in all our lives. She was kind, generous, brilliant, funny, ambitious and strong. No one dreamed bigger or worked harder to achieve her goals,' the statement said, adding, 'we request that you please respect our privacy as we grieve this devastating loss.' Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, a 39-year-old helicopter pilot from Great Mills, Maryland, was one of the soldiers who lost their lives. He spent 10 years in the U.S. Navy before transitioning to the Army in 2017 to become a UH-60 pilot. Throughout his career, he earned multiple commendations, including the Army Commendation Medal (three times), the Navy Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal (three times). He was known for his skill, leadership, and dedication to his fellow soldiers. O’Hara, an experienced helicopter repairer, had served in the Army since 2014 and deployed to Afghanistan in 2017. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal with 'C' Device for combat service, the Army Achievement Medal (four times), and the Senior Aviation Badge. His expertise kept Black Hawks mission-ready, ensuring pilots like Eaves could complete their missions safely. Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, is presumed dead, pending official identification. He served as a UH-60 helicopter repairer (15T) in the regular Army from July 2014 to present day. He successfully deployed to Afghanistan from March 2017 to August 2017. His awards include Army Commendation Medal w/C Device, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal x4, Army Good Conduct Medal x3, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Aviation Badge and Senior Aviation Badge. The soldiers were part of the 12th Aviation Battalion at Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. They were on a nighttime training mission when their UH-60 Black Hawk collided midair with an American Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet around 9 p.m. The cause of the crash is not yet known. It is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Army. While the investigation into the crash has only just begun, President Donald Trump has publicly blamed the helicopter for flying at too high an altitude. And he issued a lengthy critique about an FAA diversity hiring initiative —particularly regarding air traffic controllers — saying they eroded flight safety. No evidence has emerged that rules seeking to diversify the FAA played any role in the collision
HELICOPTER CRASH REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT US ARMY SOLDIERS FATALITIES INVESTIGATION
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Reagan National Airport Crash: Staffing Issues and a National TragedyA fatal plane crash at Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night has sparked an investigation into potential staffing issues at the air traffic control tower. The American Airlines jet collided with a helicopter, resulting in no survivors. The president addressed the nation, offering condolences and pledging to investigate the cause of the crash.
Read more »
Army Captain Identified as Third Victim in Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National AirportCaptain Rebecca M. Lobach, a distinguished Army aviation officer from Durham, North Carolina, has been identified as the third victim of a helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
Read more »
Third Soldier Identified in Fatal Helicopter Crash Near Reagan National AirportThe U.S. Army has identified Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach as the third soldier killed in the helicopter crash near Reagan National Airport. The collision with a commercial jet during a training mission has marked one of the deadliest air disasters in decades.
Read more »
Third Soldier Killed in Helicopter-Jet Collision Near Reagan National Airport IdentifiedThe U.S. Army has identified Captain Rebecca M. Lobach as the third soldier who died in Wednesday's helicopter-jet collision near Reagan National Airport. Lobach, a Durham, N.C., native, was a distinguished military graduate in ROTC at the University of North Carolina and had over 450 hours of flight time. Her family described her as a bright star, kind, generous, brilliant, funny, ambitious, and strong. The other two soldiers killed in the crash were Staff Sergeant Ryan Austin O’Hara and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves. President Trump has blamed the helicopter for flying at too high an altitude, sparking controversy surrounding the FAA's diversity hiring initiatives.
Read more »
Passenger Plane Crashes into Potomac River Near Reagan National AirportA passenger aircraft collided with a helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC on Wednesday evening. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident, stating that the plane, American Airlines Flight 5342, was en route from Wichita, Kansas. The White House confirmed that a military helicopter was involved. All takeoffs and landings at Reagan National Airport have been halted as emergency personnel respond to the scene. Search and rescue operations are underway.
Read more »
Ronald Reagan National Airport Halts Operations After CrashRonald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. has halted all takeoffs and landings following a reported aircraft crash nearby. D.C. Fire and EMS confirmed the incident, stating that a small aircraft went down near the airport and fireboats were on the scene.
Read more »