The name has been revealed for the third soldier aboard the deadly Black Hawk military chopper that collided with an American Airlines aircraft.
Along with 66 other people, including two other troops and 64 passengers and crew members on the aircraft, 28-year-old female co-pilot Rebecca Lobach tragically perished in the airborne accident.
As they commended her devotion and accomplishments for her nation, the US Army disclosed who she was.
Captain Lobach served in the Army from July 2019 until her passing on Wednesday as an aviation officer.
She received the Army duty Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal during her nearly six years of duty.
According to her family, she completed extensive training within her battalion and obtained certification as a pilot-in-command after accumulating more than 450 hours of flight time.
Prior to the catastrophic tragedy, Lobach was also a White House adviser during the Biden administration.
Lobach led Ralph Lauren through the White House last month when he won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, according to one of her devastated friends.
Through the US Army, her family released an emotional statement that said, “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.
“The request of and in coordination with the family” led to her identification on Saturday, the statement said.
Lobach’s pals told CBS 17 News that she was “golden,” a bright light, a good pilot, and a kind friend no matter what.
According to her friends, she was from Durham, North Carolina, and graduated from the University of North Carolina with a degree in biology.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the two other troops on the Black Hawk when it fell into the cold river were Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara, 28, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, 39.
According to reports, O’Hara has a one-year-old son.
According to a law enforcement source familiar with the recovery efforts, the bodies of one of the men and a woman who is thought to be Lobach have been recovered from the Potomac River thus far, CBS News said.
According to officials, the military plane was flying over Washington, DC, in the center of an American airline’s descending path.
The plane burst into a blaze and broke into three pieces from the chilling impact, killing all 60 people on board, including four crew members.
As rescue efforts were initiated, both planes fell into the river.
Rescue workers labored during the night in frigid, gloomy conditions, but survivors’ hopes soon dwindled.
A few hours later, the effort shifted from a rescue to a recovery operation, and all of the passengers were thought to be dead.
It is the deadliest US plane crash since November 2001, according to officials, who confirmed there are no survivors.
As inquiries into the accident’s cause were promptly initiated, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged that the collision was “absolutely” avoidable.