The U.S. Army on Saturday evening released the name of the third pilot on the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the fatal collision with an American Airlines regional jet this past week.
The third pilot has been identified as 28-year-old Captain Rebecca M. Lobach. The disclosure comes after the family, in an unusual move, initially asked the Army not to release the pilot’s name to the public.
“Army releases name of co-pilot of Blackhawk helicopter: Captain Rebecca Lobach, a star ROTC student who graduated from UNC with top honors and wanted to attend medical school after her Army service,” Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin reported. “She had 500 hours of flying time, about 250 flights, considered on the high end for a Captain, according to Army officials.”
The North Carolina native died along with Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, 39, and 28-year-old crew member Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara. Dozens of others in the American Airlines plane, including children, also tragically perished.
“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca,” the family said in a statement. “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 full statement from the family can be viewed below:
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.
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