‘Devastated’: Female soldier in doomed Black Hawk helicopter in US crash named

The female soldier in the doomed helicopter which crashed into the American Airlines plane over Washington has been identified.

The female soldier who was travelling in the doomed helicopter which crashed into the American Airlines plane over Washington, killing 67 people, has been identified.

Captain Rebecca M Lobach, was one of three soldiers in the US Army Black Hawk which collided with the passenger plane as it was coming in to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at about 9pm Wednesday (1pm Thursday AEDT), the US Army has confirmed.

The US Army had initially refused to identify Ms Lobach at the request of her family.

The 28-year-old, from Durham, North Carolina, had served the army since July 2019 and had over 450 hours of flight time.

She was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Ms Lobach was one of three soldiers on board the helicopter. Picture: Supplied

The 28-year-old had served the army since July 2019. Picture: Supplied

“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. She was a bright star in all our lives,” her family said in a statement released by the Army.

“Rebecca was a warrior and would not hesitate to defend her country in battle. But she was as graceful as she was fierce … 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.”

Ms Lobach’s family said she was also a certified Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Victim Advocate and hoped to continue her education to become a physician after the Army.

Ms Lobach has been remembered by her family as a “warrior”. Picture: Supplied

They said they are mourning with the other families who have lost loved ones in the crash.

“Our hearts break for the other families who have lost loved ones in this national tragedy,” they wrote.

“We request that you please respect our privacy as we grieve this devastating loss.”

The other two soldiers aboard the helicopter have been identified as Chief warrant officers and Ryan Austin O’Hara and Andrew Eaves, both from Georgia.

Ryan O'Hara. Picture: Parkview MCJROTC/Facebook

Andrew Eaves. Picture: Supplied

A Georgia Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) earlier identified Mr O’Hara as one of the victims last week.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of one of our own,” the Parkview High School Marine Corps JROTC said on Facebook..

“Former cadet Ryan O’Hara was the Crew Chief on the Black Hawk involved in last night’s crash in DC. Our deepest condolences go out to Gary O’Hara and his entire family.”

Mr Eaves’s wife, Carrie Eaves, shared the news of her husband’s passing on Facebook

“We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today,” she wrote.

American Airlines flight 5342 and Black Hawk helicopter collided on Wednesday night.

Recovery teams search the wreckage after the crash. Picture: Al Drago/Getty Images/AFP

42 bodies recovered

Last week’s collision between the Black Hawk helicopter and Flight AA5342, which was carrying 64 people, marks the country’s worst air disaster since 2001.

President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday there were no survivors.
Officials said 42 sets of remains have been recovered, and the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has positively identified 38.

Officials expect to recover all of the remains.

The black boxes from both aircraft have been recovered.

In an update on Saturday, Washington Fire and EMS Department said on Friday night “the Black Hawk helicopter was briefly stabilised with a crane to assist in recovery efforts, however, it has not been removed from the water”.