Identities of All 3 Soldiers on Board Black Hawk Involved in Collision with American Eagle Jet Released
The U.S. Army Identifies Pilot, Aviation Officer, and Helicopter Mechanic Among the Casualties
The identities of the three U.S. Army soldiers who were aboard a Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Eagle passenger jet near Washington, D.C., have been confirmed. The tragic crash occurred on Wednesday evening, just before 9 p.m., over the Potomac River. Along with the three service members, all 64 people aboard the jet are presumed dead following the low-altitude collision.
While the U.S. Army has released the names of the soldiers on board the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter, the recovery of remains and positive identification efforts are still ongoing.
The first soldier identified was Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland. Eaves, a UH-60 pilot, served in the U.S. Navy before joining the Army as a pilot in 2017. He had earned numerous awards throughout his career, including Army and Navy commendation and achievement medals, some received multiple times, the Army stated on Friday.
The second soldier identified was Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, 28, of Durham, North Carolina. Lobach served as an aviation officer in the Army from July 2019 until last month. According to her family, Lobach had logged more than 450 hours of flight time as a certified pilot-in-command. She also had served as a platoon leader and company executive officer at the 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
In addition to her military career, Lobach volunteered at the White House, supporting the President and First Lady during various high-profile events. She was also certified as a Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Victim Advocate. The Army noted that Lobach had planned to pursue a medical career after her military service.
Her family remembered her as a "daughter, sister, partner, and friend" who made a lasting impact on all who knew her. "She was a servant, a caregiver, an advocate. Most of all, she loved and was loved," her family said in a statement. Lobach was posthumously awarded several medals, including the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.
The third soldier identified was Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O'Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia. O'Hara, a UH-60 helicopter mechanic, had been with the Army since 2014. His cousin, in a social media post, described O'Hara as "a lifelong soldier" who had always known his passion for serving his country. O'Hara had deployed to Afghanistan in 2017, earning numerous medals, including the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO medal, and multiple Army commendation medals.
O'Hara is survived by his wife and 18-month-old son. His family and the Army praised his dedication to the military and his country.
As the nation mourns the loss of these brave individuals, the Army continues to honor their service and sacrifices.