The U.S. Army has identified Capt. Rebecca Lobach, 28, from Durham, North Carolina, as one of the three soldiers who tragically died in a Black Hawk helicopter collision near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening. The helicopter collided with American Eagle Flight 5342 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 67 people aboard both the helicopter and the passenger plane.
In a statement, Lobach’s family expressed their deep sorrow, saying: “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.”
Friends and fellow Army officers described Lobach as an exceptionally dedicated and patriotic soldier. First Lt. Samatha Brown, who attended the University of North Carolina with Lobach, described her as “outstanding” and shared fond memories of their friendship. “She was so intelligent, so dedicated, and loved her friends and family so fiercely,” Brown said.
Lobach commissioned into the Army in 2019 from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at UNC Chapel Hill, where she was a distinguished graduate. She went on to become a Black Hawk pilot in the D.C. Army National Guard, and many in the Army aviation community, especially female aviators, are mourning her loss.
Second Lt. Lexi Freas, who was inspired by Lobach to pursue a career as a Black Hawk pilot, said Lobach’s support had changed the trajectory of her life. “Her impact and her effort changed the trajectory of my career, my life,” Freas recalled. “It was gut-wrenching to hear about her passing.”
Lobach was flying the Black Hawk alongside Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, 39, and Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara, 28, both of whom also died in the crash. Eaves and O’Hara had been identified by the military earlier in the week, but Lobach’s name had initially been withheld at her family’s request.
In response to online conspiracy theories about the identity of the soldiers, Lobach’s family felt it was important to release her name, as waiting had led to harmful speculation.
Lobach had been awarded several military honours, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and National Defence Service Medal. Her family concluded their statement by expressing their sympathy for the other families who lost loved ones in the crash, and reaffirmed that her life, though tragically short, had a profound impact on those who knew her.
“Her life was short, but she made a difference in the lives of all who knew her. Our hearts break for the other families who have lost loved ones in this national tragedy, and we mourn with them.”
