Former White House aide named as third soldier killed in Black Hawk crash over Washington DC
Former White House aide named as third soldier killed in Black Hawk crash over Washington DC
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The third soldier who died on board the Black Hawk military helicopter that crashed after colliding with a plane in Washington DC has been named as a former White House aide. Rebecca Lobach, 28, was a co-pilot on the aircraft when it hit the American Airlines flight in the American capital above the Potomac River, with the crash killing 67 people. Investigators have recovered the black box from the Army Black Hawk helicopter and have now named most of the 64 who were on board the plane as well as the three on the helicopter.
![[Aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/31/15/09/Aftermath-of-the-collision-of-American-Eagle-flight-5342-and-a-Black-Hawk-helicopter-that-crashed-in.jpeg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
Captain Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, served as an aviation officer in the regular Army from July 2019 to January 2025 - the time of her death. Her family said in a statement that she served as a White House Military Social Aide, hosting White House events, including ceremonies awarding the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The statement said: “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.
![[Who was on American Airlines flight 5342 that crashed in Washington? - full list]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/31/7/40/plane-crash-victims-i8tufswn.jpeg?crop=8:5,smart&quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
“Rebecca was a warrior and would not hesitate to defend her country in battle. But she was as graceful as she was fierce.”. The family added: “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.”. During her time in the army, she was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion, Ft Belvoir, and won the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
![[Washington plane crash: Black box recovered from Black Hawk helicopter as 41 bodies pulled from Potomac river]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/31/15/09/Aftermath-of-the-collision-of-American-Eagle-flight-5342-and-a-Black-Hawk-helicopter-that-crashed-in.jpeg?crop=8:5,smart&quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
