DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — Disbelief — that is what friends and neighbors of Rebecca Lobach tell CBS 17 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.
CBS 17 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 say 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.
