Update: The female pilot killed aboard the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a passenger jet in Washington, D.C. has been identified as former Biden White House aide Rebecca Lobach.
The U.S. Army made the announcement Saturday after initially refusing to release the pilot’s identity at the request of her family.
Captain Rebecca Lobach is identified as third Black Hawk pilot who died in collision with American Airlines flight in DC https://t.co/sKr67ZahtQ pic.twitter.com/Mj4GjIDPOV
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) February 1, 2025
From The Daily Mail:
Captain Rebecca M. Lobach, 28, from Durham, North Carolina was one of three soldiers aboard the chopper that crashed into the jet just as it was coming into land.
The Army had initially refused to identify Lobach at the request of her family but the decision to release her name came ‘at the request of and in coordination with the family,’ according to a statement released by the Army.
‘We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. She was a bright star in all our lives,’ her family said. ‘Rebecca was a warrior and would not hesitate to defend her country in battle.’
Lobach had worked as a White House aide during the Biden administration and had served as an aviation officer in the Army from July 2019 until January 2025.
Original story below:
Army Refuses to Identify Female Black Hawk Pilot Killed in DC Collision
The U.S. Army is refusing to name the female pilot killed aboard the military helicopter that collided with a commercial jet landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday.
In an announcement Friday, the Army, which disclosed the names of the other two soldiers on the black hawk helicopter who died, said the woman’s family requested her identity be withheld from the public.
“At the request of the family, the name of the third Soldier will not be released at this time,” the Army Public Affairs wrote on their website.
The unidentified pilot had over 500 hours of flight experience, and her instructor who was also aboard had over 1,000 hours, according to reports.
From the New York Post:
The unidentified soldier was an experienced pilot with more than 500 hours of flying experience, the Telegraph reported, citing Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff of the army’s aviation directorate.
The Army on Friday formally identified Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, as the two other service members who were on the Black Hawk helicopter when it went down in the fiery crash into the Potomac River.
The bodies of Eaves and the female pilot have not yet been recovered, the Army said.
The Army’s aviation directorate chief of staff Jonathan Koziol also said both pilots had flown the “specific route” that resulted in the collision several times before.
“Both pilots had flown this specific route before at night — this wasn’t something new to either one of them,” Koziol said.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the crew of the UH-60 Black Hawk crew was “fairly experienced” but announced the Army is investigating whether the helicopter was flying at the appropriate elevation.
The midair collision between the helicopter and an American Airlines jet resulted in the deaths of 67 people.
Given the severity of the tragedy and unusual circumstances surrounding it, many on social media argued the American people have the right to know the identity of the female pilot involved.
“The military is withholding the name of the female helicopter pilot. This is totally unacceptable. The helicopter was involved in, and may have actually caused, one of the worst airline disasters in American history. We have a right to know the names,” the Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh wrote on X Friday.
The military is withholding the name of the female helicopter pilot. This is totally unacceptable. The helicopter was involved in, and may have actually caused, one of the worst airline disasters in American history. We have a right to know the names. pic.twitter.com/137Z1yEwMx
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) January 31, 2025
If they’re going to refuse to release the female pilot name, then they must release who was in control of the chopper at time of crash. This was a “training” flight and she was the lesser experienced pilot. Good odds she was in control and learning.
— Rob Schmitt (@SchmittNYC) February 1, 2025
I have a lot of respect for our military, but there’s no way someone can contribute to the death of this many people and not be named/investigated.
— I Am Leah (@Bossy_Leah) January 31, 2025
The Army is refusing to release the female pilot’s name “at the request of the family”.
Trump needs to fix this. Now.
Ok let me get this straight…
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) February 1, 2025
President Trump says the Blackhawk helicopter was flying way too high and implies it was intentional
The video shows it head straight towards the passenger airplane
The military won’t release the female pilot’s name
What are we supposed to make… pic.twitter.com/EkzdFLh2uq
Yo Pete
— Grace Chong, MBI (@gc22gc) February 1, 2025
@PeteHegsethhttps://t.co/bMLnr5x0S6 pic.twitter.com/LYcWDqP85z
I think it’s strange that the female pilots name is not being released.
— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) February 1, 2025
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