US Identifies Third Soldier Killed In Washington DC Helicopter Crash As Army Aviation Officer

Last Updated:February 02, 2025, 09:43 IST

Captain Rebecca Lobach, 28, was an officer with the US Army aviation with over 450 flight hours. She died in the chopper-jet collision in Washington DC this week.

Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, NC, served as an Army aviation officer since July 2019 (Photo: AP)

The Army of the United States has released the name of the third soldier who died on a Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines passenger jet near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport this week, killing 67 people.

The soldier was identified as Captain Rebecca Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina. She was an aviation officer in the regular Army since 2019 and was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Initially, the Army declined to identify Rebecca, saying that it was at the request of the family. However, on Saturday, the Army said that Lobach’s family had agreed to release her name to the public.

The Army previously identified the other two soldiers killed in Wednesday’s crash as Staff Sergeant Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39. The names of the 60 passengers and four crew members who died on the jet have not been officially released, although many have been identified through family and social media.

LOVACH’s FAMILY REMEMBERS HER

In a statement released by the Army, Rebecca’s family said, “She was a bright star in all our lives."

“She was a distinguished military graduate in ROTC at the University of North Carolina, and was in the top 20 per cent 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 added.

Her family also noted that she worked as an advocate for victims of sexual assault and planned to become a doctor after her military service.

“No one dreamed bigger or worked harder to achieve her goals," they said.

“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."

WASHINGTON DC PLANE CRASH INVESTIGATIONS

Meanwhile, investigators from the Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have determined the CRJ700 airplane was at 325 feet (91 meters), plus or minus 25 feet, at the time of impact, officials said at a Saturday evening news briefing.

The information was based on data recovered from the jet’s flight data recorder – the “black box" that tracks the aircraft’s movements, speed and other parameters.

The new detail suggests the Army helicopter was flying above 200 feet (61 meters), the maximum altitude for the route it was using.

Preliminary data indicates the control tower’s radar showed the helicopter at 200 feet at the time of the accident, though officials said the information has not been confirmed.

“That’s what our job is, to figure that out," NTSB board member Todd Inman told reporters when asked what could explain the discrepancy.

Inman also said at Saturday’s briefing that the helicopter’s training flight would typically include the use of night-vision goggles.

“We do not know at this time if the night-vision goggles were actually being worn, nor what the setting may be," he said. “Further investigation should be able to let us know if that occurred and what factor it may play in the overall accident."

Data confirms that the air traffic controller alerted the helicopter to the presence of the CRJ700 about two minutes before the crash.

One second before impact, the crew aboard the American flight had a “verbal reaction," according to the plane’s cockpit voice recorder, and flight data shows the plane’s nose began to rise, officials said.

The official said an automated radio transmission alerted “traffic, traffic, traffic," was heard on the voice recorder and then sounds of the collision were heard before the recording ended.

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