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Soldier ID’d in DC Plane Crash—Helicopter May Have Been Too High - Pinas Times

Soldier ID’d in DC Plane Crash—Helicopter May Have Been Too High

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Army has identified the third soldier who tragically lost her life in the Black Hawk helicopter crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport earlier this week. The accident, which involved a collision with an American Airlines jet, resulted in the deaths of 67 people.

Who Was Captain Rebecca Lobach?

The soldier has been identified as Captain Rebecca Lobach, a Durham, North Carolina native and aviation officer who had served in the Army since 2019. She was part of the 12th Aviation Battalion, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

At first, the Army withheld Lobach’s identity at the request of her family. However, on Saturday, the family agreed to release her name to the public.

“She was a bright star in all our lives,” her family shared in a statement.
“Rebecca was passionate about helping others. She worked as an advocate for victims of sexual assault and dreamed of becoming a doctor after her military service. No one dreamed bigger or worked harder to achieve her goals.”

New Investigation Findings: Helicopter May Have Been Flying Too High

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been analyzing data from the black box of the American Airlines CRJ700 passenger jet. Their findings reveal that the plane was at an altitude of 325 feet (91 meters) at the time of impact—plus or minus 25 feet.

This suggests that the Army helicopter was flying above 200 feet (61 meters), which is the maximum altitude allowed for that flight route.

Key Findings:
✈️ The air traffic controller alerted the Black Hawk helicopter about the jet two minutes before impact.
✈️ One second before the crash, the American Airlines crew had a verbal reaction, indicating they saw the helicopter.
✈️ The cockpit voice recorder captured an automated warning: “Traffic, traffic, traffic!” just before the collision.
✈️ The plane’s nose began to rise as if the pilot was trying to avoid the crash, but it was too late.

Unanswered Questions About Night Vision Goggles

The NTSB also revealed that the Black Hawk crew was on a training flight and would typically use night-vision goggles. However, investigators do not yet know if the pilots were actually wearing them at the time of the crash.

“We need to determine if the goggles were in use and if they played any role in the accident,” said NTSB board member Todd Inman.

Victims and Ongoing Recovery Efforts

The Army had previously identified the other two soldiers who died in the crash:

  • Staff Sergeant Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28
  • Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39

The 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines jet have not yet been officially named, though many families have identified their loved ones through social media.

Rescue teams have recovered 42 bodies from the Potomac River, where the wreckage crashed, and recovery efforts will continue on Sunday as crews prepare to remove the remains of the aircraft.

💔 This tragedy has shaken the nation. Investigators are now working tirelessly to find answers and prevent future disasters.

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