The U.S. Army has identified the third soldier killed in the collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial jet near Reagan National Airport. The details of the tragedy and the ongoing investigation are explored.
The U.S. Army has identified the third soldier who perished in the helicopter that collided with a commercial jet near Reagan National Airport Wednesday during a nighttime training mission. Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, 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.Here's what's known: Cpt.
Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, 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. RELATED: Who was on the plane that crashed in DC? What we know so far about the victims 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
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