An American Eagle plane departs the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, as search and rescue teams work nearby, within the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River, in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., Jan. 31, 2025.
Eduardo Munoz | Reuters
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 together 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 stays and making positive identifications.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, is seen on this undated handout image, after the U.S. Army on Friday released the names of two of the soldiers killed when the military Black Hawk wherein they were flying collided with a passenger jet.
U.S. Department Of Army | Via Reuters
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, was identified as a UH-60 pilot on board. Eaves served within the U.S. Navy before coming to the Army in 2017 as a pilot, in line with an Army statement on Friday.
He was well-decorated, receiving awards that included Army and Navy commendation and achievement medals, some awarded multiple times, in line with the statement.
Also on board was Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, who was described as an aviation officer within the Army from July 2019 until last month, the Army said Saturday.
Her family said in a press release shared by the Army that she had greater than 450 hours of flight time as a licensed pilot-in-command.
Lobach was also a former platoon leader and company executive officer within the twelfth Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, her family said.
Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach
Courtesy:U.S. Army
She also volunteered to work on the White House, it said.
“Rebecca was honored to function 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 licensed Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Victim Advocate within the Army, the family said.
She planned a profession shift after the Army by attending medical school to grow to be 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 within the lives of all who knew her. Our hearts break for the opposite families who’ve lost family members on this national tragedy and we mourn with them.”
Amongst her awards were the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon, the Army said.
Staff Sergeant Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, is seen on this undated handout image, after the U.S. Army on Friday released the names of two of the soldiers killed when the military Black Hawk wherein they were flying collided with a passenger jet.
U.S. Department Of Army | Via Reuters
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 began his Army profession in 2014.
In a social media post, his cousin described O’Hara as a lifelong soldier.
“He joined the military right out of highschool and dedicated his life to his country ever since,” she said. “Being highly involved in ROTC throughout highschool, 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, amongst other awards.
He’s survived by his wife and 18-month-old son.
