Rebecca Lobach Obituary, Death; – Disbelief — that is what friends and neighbors of Rebecca Lobach tell NEWSCHAIN they’re feeling after hearing the tragic news that she was in one of two aircraft to fall into the icy Potomac River Wednesday night in the nation’s capitol.
The U.S. Army has confirmed Lobach, a Durham woman and UNC alum, has been identified by authorities as the third person inside of the Black Hawk helicopter which collided with an American Airlines jet. The crash has left a presumed 67 people dead — 60 AA passengers, four AA crew members and three aboard the Black Hawk.
At her family’s current home in Rougemont in northern Durham County, several of Lobach’s loved ones and military officials have been seen coming and going since the devastating crash currently under investigation of the National Transportation Safety Board.
NEWSCHAIN spoke with Lobach’s father briefly, but the family did not want to comment. Instead, the family made a statement through a press release issued by the Army at 5 p.m on Saturday.
“We 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,” the statement began.
Who is Rebecca Lobach?
Lobach, as her friends and family have attested, was a talented and brilliant pilot. Several of her friends have opened up to CBS 17 about the life she lived and what people should know about her.
Lobach’s friends describe her as giving, fun, and “golden,” saying she was a bright light, a capable pilot, and good friend.
Friends who went through ROTC with Lobach at UNC-Chapel Hill said she was up for a challenge and determined. Every one of them pointed out her status as a distinguished military graduate, meaning she was in the top 20% of all cadets across the country.
“She was a patriot, she loved her country,” said Sam Brown, a close friend of Lobach’s. “She was everything I wanted to be, and then to like have her as one of my best friends, to this day, we were so fortunate.”
Her family also listed her highest achievements in their statement. Among them were:
Achieving the rank of Captain,
Serving twice as a Platoon Leader and as a Company Executive Officer in the 12th Aviation Battalion at Davison Army Airfield in Fort Belvoir, Virginia,
Serving as a White House Military Social Aide,
Accumulating more than 450 hours of flight time, and
Earning a certification as a pilot-in-command after extensive testing by the most senior and experienced pilots in her battalion.
“Rebecca cared about people, and she extended to individuals the same fearless defense she gave to this nation,” her family said.
An Army spokesperson said at the time of her death, Lobach was serving as an aviation officer (15A) and was performing a training mission.
She had served in that capacity since July 2019. In her service, she earned awards including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. Another friend of Lobach’s, Sabrina Bell, remembers her as one of the happiest people she has ever met with “one of those contagious laughs.”
Even during tough military workouts or training, they say Lobach was supportive and kept positive. They shared photos with CBS 17 showing Lobach going through training and spending time with friends. In life and in a Black Hawk, Bell said Lobach “was meticulous in everything she did, she never did anything half-heartedly, she never did anything impulsively.”
Another friend told NEWSCHAIN Lobach enjoyed helping younger people get their start in the military and acted as a mentor. That friend tells CBS 17 she has her current job because of Lobach’s guidance.
“If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be an Aviation officer in the DC Guard, I don’t know if I’d be an Aviation officer at all, she really inspired my career,” said Lexi Freas. “Not only did she care about being a leader and being the best officer she could, but also about being the best pilot she could.”
