The Army has identified the third soldier who was inside the Black Hawk helicopter involved in Wednesday’s deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport after it had been initially withheld. 

Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, served as an aviation officer in the Army from July 2019 and had around 500 hours of flying time in the Black Hawk under her belt, which is considered normal, the Army said in a release. 

Lobach’s family had initially asked for her identity to be withheld because of unsubstantiated accusations that DEI was a factor in the crash. 

VICTIMS IDENTIFED IN DC PLANE CRASH *INVOLVING AMERICAN AIRLINES JET AND MILITARY HELICOPTER

Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, served as an aviation officer in the Army from July 2019 and had around 500 hours of flying time in the Black Hawk under her belt.  (Getty/US Army)

The crew chief and Lobach’s other fellow pilot inside the Black Hawk were identified on Thursday as Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves. 

Their helicopter collided with an American Airlines regional jet landing at Reagan from Wichita, Kansas, Wednesday evening while the soldiers were on a training mission, killing all 64 on the plane and the three in the helicopter. 

The cause is under investigation.  

Emergency workers recover debris from the Potomac River in the aftermath of the collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter, as seen from Virginia, Jan. 30, 2025.  (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)

Lobach was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Her awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon, according to the Army. 

A photo of Capt. Rebecca Lobach was posted by USA Today reporter Davis Winkie.  Capt. Rebecca Lobach died in Wednesday evening’s crash near DC’s National Airport. (Davis Winkie via X)

“Our deepest condolences go out to her family, and all the families who are mourning the loss of their loved ones impacted by this devastating accident. We continue to work with the families of our fallen Soldiers and support the ongoing investigations,” the Army added. 

HARROWING VIDEO FROM MILITARY BASE SHOWS NEW ANGLE OF MIDAIR CRASH CATASTROPHE

DC Crash Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot Andrew Eaves (U.S. Armed Forces)

The Army shared a statement from Lobach’s family in which they said they 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.” 

Lobach was also the White House military social aide in the Biden administration, CBS news reported, citing a friend of hers. 

Emergency response teams including Washington, DC Fire and EMS, DC Police and others, assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport on on Thursday.  (Andrew Harnik/Getty)

The wife of Eaves, the instructor pilot-in-charge, who was from Mississippi, confirmed his death on social media last week. 

“I am sure by now all of you have heard the news of the tragedy that has occurred in DC,” she wrote on Facebook. “My husband was one of the pilots in the Blackhawk. We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today. We ask for peace while we grieve.”

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said the state was mourning the loss of Eaves.

“Mississippi is mourning the loss of Brooksville native Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, who was killed in last night’s accident at Reagan National Airport,” Reeves wrote on X. “Elee and I are praying for the victims’ families and first responders who are assisting.”

O’Hara was memorialized by his high school JROTC program. 

“Ryan is fondly remembered as a guy who would fix things around the ROTC gym as well as a vital member of the Rifle Team. Ryan leaves behind a wife and 1-year-old son,” the Parkview High School JROTC in Georgia wrote on Facebook. 

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Eaves, the instructor pilot in charge who was flying the helicopter had 1,000 flying hours – which is considered “very experienced,” Fox News has learned. Most flights are on average two hours in length.

Both the instructor pilot in charge and the Lobach, the co-pilot, were being evaluated during the flight, and were familiar with the area and route, Fox News is told.

Military and other government helicopters fly this route almost daily, according to a senior Army pilot and warrant officer.