STATEMENT FROM THE FAMILY of Capt Rebecca Lobach, the Army Blackhawk co-pilot:
“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.
Rebecca began her career in the United States Army as a distinguished military graduate in ROTC at the University of North Carolina, and was in the top 20% of cadets nationwide. She achieved the rank of Captain, having twice served as a Platoon Leader and as a Company Executive Officer in the 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. With more than 450 hours of flight time, she earned certification as a pilot-in-command after extensive testing by the most senior and experienced pilots in her battalion.
Rebecca was a warrior and would not hesitate to defend her country in battle. But she was as graceful as she was fierce: in addition to her duties as an Army aviator, Rebecca was honored to serve as a White House Military Social Aide, volunteering to support the President and First Lady in hosting countless White House events, including ceremonies awarding the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rebecca cared about people, and she extended to individuals the same fearless defense she gave to this nation. She was proud of the difference she made as a certified Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Victim Advocate and hoped to continue her education so she could serve this country as a physician when her time with the Army ended. She once said, "My experiences with SHARP have reinforced my resolve to serve others with compassion, understanding, and the resources necessary for healing."
Rebecca was many things. She was a daughter, sister, partner, and friend. She was a servant, a caregiver, an advocate. 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.”
This story is developing and AFP will report more as information is received that we can verify...
UPDATE: The U.S. Army is not releasing the name of the female pilot in this collision incident in Washington in a move that is already igniting more conspiracy theories.
The remains of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, have not yet been recovered, therefore is duty status-whereabouts unknown (DUSTWUN), declared a U.S. Army statement.
At the request of the family, the name of the third Soldier will not be released at this time. That pilot is also DUSTWUN.
This is a major disappointment to military members and American citizens from the new administration which promised transparency.
Coming on the heels of SecDef Hegseth not firing General CQ Brown, who is an avowed racist against whites, the Pentagon, the Army, and the Trump administration are betraying their promises to Americans.
The public has had enough of this garbage...
Time to do the right thing and tell us the truth!
Social media has erupted over theories the deceased female pilot of the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter that crashed into a commercial jet near Reagan National airport in Washington, DC was a transgender pilot.
Sources tell AFP this rumor is untrue, and the deceased Blackhawk driver was indeed a woman.
However, the name of the female pilot has not been released.
In addition, a video is making its way around the internet of an ADSB readout showing erratic moves of the helicopter towards other aircraft prior to the crash. Since the Blackhawk usually is not equipped with ADSB, we also cannot confirm this video and readers should be suspect as to its authenticity.
She had 500 hours time in the Blackhawk helicopter. That is a lot of time. The problem lies with ATC. Both aircraft had transponders and each would have been squawking a code unique to each aircraft. This would have identified each aircraft on the ATC radar scope giving altitude, heading and speed of each aircraft. Anyone watching the scope should have plainly seen that the two aircraft were on a collision course in plenty of time to take corrective action. Someone in ATC was asleep.
But it doesn't answer the question of why she was busting helicopter altitude maximums, which I understand is 200AGL in that area or am I wrong about that. Please inform.
Have no idea about that. What was her instructor who had over 1000 hours in the Blackhawk doing? It was ATC job to track the aircraft and they should have prevented this collision.
100% incorrect. The pilot is always the one in charge of an aircraft and have final decision on safe flight. This pilot completely screwed up. It's not ATC's fault she flew into an airplane.
An instructor can take over anytime.
DEI hires get to do anything
True in most professions. However, DEI or not, if you can’t successfully handle emergency procedures, demonstrate proficiency, and good judgement you don’t graduate from Fort Rucker and get to be called an aviator.
Lets wait for the NTSB to complete their examination before you start throwing pilots under the bus!
PS - Did you have the love of country to serve? Are you willing to sacrifice your life for your country, or are you an armchair critic with more bluster than brains?
If all that were really true, DEI wouldn't be a problem. The whole point of DEI is that they DO get the job even though they can't qualify. All the stuff you PS added at the end has nothing to do with anything.
Rucker gives you the training to fly basic missions and you never fly without a check pilot at your first unit. This was a high risk mission and should only be flown with a left seater very experienced in the mission. Getting someone out of DC during an attack scenario would require some pretty fancy flying.
33 years active and reserve (22 active). Still hold myself to the Oath at age 75.
the notion that she graduated with the knowledge to successfully operate a helicopter is not necessarily true...if they passed her due to DEI then she wasn't qualified.
Now they say 450 but by the time we investigate it will probably be down to 300. Regardless, not a lot of time and no combat experience at all. Just another DEI incompetent.
I would be ashamed to know I got to fly this mission if I knew it was only because I was gaya and female. But that is just me.
For the mission she was flying (COG flight), 500 hours is the bare minimum I would accept. Also, I believe that the -60 is equipped with TCAS plus the airport has radars that go crazy if two aircraft are on collision courses. No, something just isn't right here.
Absolutely! It's highly likely that it was a suicide mission by pilots...
I heard that they were transporting a witness ( whistler blower) who was going to testified about something concerning NIH. Leads me to think Covid.
What about simple visual line of sight? The videos appear to show the chopper flew directly into the plane. Shouldn't the chopper pilot have seen the other aircraft? Or was she completely relying on her instruments and ATC instructions?
There is a lot of difference in the ability to see objects when flying at night vs daytime. As a Pilot I know.
Thank you; I appreciate your insight.
The article said "declared a U.S. Army statement". Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves appears to be in the Navy from a picture posted of him in a Navy uniform on another website. Is the military base from which this helicopter was operating a naval base or army base. This should not be confusing.
They say she was a "woman"? Ah, but what is a "woman"? We have pictures of those in the jet who died, why not pictures of those in the helicopter? Oh, I get it . . . . . DEI !
I don’t know whether she was a great pilot or not. I do know she was qualified, because you don’t graduate from Army flight training unless you are. If you can’t autorotate your dead.
I had over my years of flying career, starting in 1969, the pleasure to fly with some great ladies! Salute her; she chose to serve! Rest in peace.
She chose to serve, was given medals and never deployed. Now she is dead along with many others.
Sad that you don't understand the very issue you're trying to lecture us on.
If you can't autorotate your (you are) dead. Hmmm and other also.
A terrible loss for all the crash victims. If there is a problem in the Air Traffic Confrol system, this incident must result in corrective action.
Go Woke, DIE.
The names are being witheld pending family notification and approval.
"Coming on the heels of SecDef Hegseth not firing General CQ Brown" hey Todd, give them time. But of course unlike you, you do everything in and instant, don't you.
After the last 8 years, giving those who betrayed the republic 'more time' is not something I am interested in.
45/47 has done more to put the Republic back on course in 2 wks. than any President in 50 Yrs. The 'woke' Generals will be gone- perhaps after testifying in Congress. on the why/how of D.E.I. etc.? You can't undue the massive damage of 8 years in less than a month. jmo.
A GANGrenous Vein 0f DEMonic DEPRAVITY Runs 0UR Body politic through; Which MUST Be REM0VED !
I am venturing a guess the DOD helped the family write that second paragraph after Captain Lobach's social media accounts were all scrubbed.That's why the delay in making her name public.
If she had survived she would have been court martialed for taking the lives of 70 people. She's lucky she bought the farm!