The identities of all three soldiers who were on board a Black Hawk helicopter when it collided with an American Eagle passenger jet near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday have been released.
The three service members along with all 64 people onboard the jet are presumed dead following the low-altitude collision over the Potomac River just before 9 p.m. that evening.
The U.S. Army released the identities of the three soldiers on board the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter, but said it had not finished recovering remains and making positive identifications.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, was identified as a UH-60 pilot on board. Eaves served in the U.S. Navy before coming to the Army in 2017 as a pilot, according to an Army statement on Friday.
He was well-decorated, receiving awards that included Army and Navy commendation and achievement medals, some awarded multiple times, according to the statement.
Also on board was Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, who was described as an aviation officer in the Army from July 2019 until last month, the Army said Saturday.
Her family said in a statement shared by the Army that she had more than 450 hours of flight time as a certified pilot-in-command.
Lobach was also a former platoon leader and company executive officer in the 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, her family said.
She also volunteered to work at the White House, it said.
“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,” her family said.
Lobach was also a certified Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Victim Advocate in the Army, the family said.
She planned a career shift after the Army by attending medical school to become a physician, the family said.
“She was a daughter, sister, partner, and friend,” the family said. “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.”
Among her awards were the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon, the Army said.
Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia was also on board, the Army said. He was described as a UH-60 helicopter mechanic who started his Army career in 2014.
In a social media post, his cousin described O’Hara as a lifelong soldier.
“He joined the military right out of high school and dedicated his life to his country ever since,” she said. “Being highly involved in ROTC throughout high school, he knew what his passion was and he was dedicated to it.”
The Army said O’Hara deployed to Afghanistan in 2017 and received an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, with a campaign star, a NATO medal, and multiple Army commendation medals, among other awards.
He is survived by his wife and 18-month-old son.
