Names of Soldiers and Passengers Revealed in Fatal Black Hawk and American Eagle Collision

The identities of the three U.S. Army soldiers on board the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Eagle passenger jet near Washington, D.C., have been released. The tragic incident, which occurred on Wednesday evening just before 9 p.m. over the Potomac River, resulted in the presumed deaths of all 67 people aboard, including the 64 on the jet and the three soldiers.

The U.S. Army confirmed the identities of the three soldiers, but recovery efforts are ongoing, and positive identifications are still in progress. The soldiers were on board a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter when it collided with the American Eagle jet, causing the catastrophic crash.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, aged 39, from Great Mills, Maryland, was identified as the pilot of the UH-60 Black Hawk. Eaves had a distinguished career, having served in the U.S. Navy before joining the Army in 2017 as a helicopter pilot. His career in aviation earned him numerous decorations, including both Army and Navy commendation and achievement medals.

Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach
Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, 28, from Durham, North Carolina, was an aviation officer in the Army and served from July 2019 until just last month. Lobach had over 450 flight hours as a certified pilot-in-command. Her family shared a statement through the Army, highlighting her dedication to service, including her time volunteering as a White House Military Social Aide. Lobach had the honor of supporting the President and First Lady during numerous prestigious events, such as ceremonies for the Medal of Honor and Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Lobach was also recognized for her work as a Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Victim Advocate in the Army. She had planned to attend medical school to become a physician after her military service. Her family described her as a devoted daughter, sister, partner, and friend, and emphasized her caring, loving nature.

Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara
Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, was a UH-60 helicopter mechanic who enlisted in 2014. O’Hara had a passion for the military from a young age, having been heavily involved in ROTC throughout high school. His service included a deployment to Afghanistan in 2017, where he was awarded an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a campaign star, a NATO medal, and multiple Army commendation medals. He is survived by his wife and 18-month-old son.

The tragic collision has affected not only the families of the service members but also the broader community of those who knew them. Their lives were dedicated to service, and their untimely deaths serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the military.

Related News : https://airguide.info/?s=American+Eagle

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com