The US Army has identified the third soldier who perished in the collision involving an American Airlines flight and a military Black Hawk helicopter.
On the evening of January 29 at 8:47 pm ET, American Airlines flight 5342 collided mid-air with a US military helicopter over the Potomac River, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The tragic incident resulted in the death of all 60 passengers, four crew members, and three soldiers aboard the two aircraft. Initially, the US Army withheld the name of the last soldier but has since made it public.
On January 31, the US Army announced on its website that there were three personnel aboard the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during the crash. They identified two of them as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves.
The Army initially stated they would not release the third soldier’s name at the family’s request. However, in coordination with the family, they later revealed the soldier’s identity as Captain Rebecca M Lobach from Durham, North Carolina.
“[Lobach] served as an aviation officer (15A) in the regular Army from July 2019 to January 2025. She has no deployments. She was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion, Ft Belvoir, Va. Her awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon,” the Army stated. “Our deepest condolences go out to her family, and all the families who are mourning the loss of their loved ones impacted by this devastating accident. We continue to work with the families of our fallen Soldiers and support the ongoing investigations.”
They also released a statement from her family.
The family expressed their grief, stating: “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 highlighted Lobach’s distinguished military career, noting her impressive start as a distinguished military graduate in ROTC at the University of North Carolina. She achieved the rank of Captain and served in key roles within the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
The family praised her as a ‘warrior’ who would willingly defend her country, describing her as both graceful and fierce, and commending her dedication to supporting others, whether through volunteering at White House events or serving as a certified Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Victim Advocate.
Described as ‘a daughter, sister, partner and friend, servant, caregiver [and] advocate’, the statement concluded: “Most of all, she loved and was loved. 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. We request that you please respect our privacy as we grieve this devastating loss.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the US Army are all involved in an ongoing investigation into the incident.
A spokesperson for the US Army stated: “The NTSB will lead the investigation. We are working with local officials and will provide any additional information once it becomes available.”
For those who have experienced a bereavement and need support, you can reach out to GrieveWell by calling (734) 975-0238, or emailing [email protected].