Two days after the harrowing mi-air collision between American Airlines jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, the US Army issued a statement on their website regarding the tragedy. It was reported that the United States Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter experienced an accident “while conducting a training mission in proximity to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.”
There were speculations suggesting that the training mission of the Black Hawk helicopter was, in reality, a rehearsal plan that encompassed the evacuation of the White House.
Ultimately, defence sources confirmed the nature of the exercise to CBS News.
The helicopter implicated in the accident was conducting a retraining exercise for the president’s emergency evacuation route, which constitutes an integral component of a contingency plan designed to ensure the continuity of government operations.
The Continuity of Government (COG) mission, as delineated on the government’s official website, refers to the strategic framework established to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of the government in the event of a significant catastrophe or an assault on Washington, D.C. In accordance with the national continuity plan, it is imperative that each federal agency establishes a comprehensive strategy for the mass evacuation and relocation from the national capital region.
One of the five principal components of this mission is the safeguarding of prominent individuals and critical infrastructure.
The U.S. Army has identified one of the military members involved in the collision as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, from Lilburn, Georgia.
The other pilot, whose remains have yet to be located, is consequently classified as duty status-whereabouts unknown (DUSTWUN). He has been identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, aged 39, from Great Mills, Maryland.
Initially, the identity of the third aviator, who was confirmed to be female, was kept confidential at the request of her family.
Subsequently, the United States Army recognised her as Captain Rebecca M. Lobach, hailing from Durham, North Carolina.
Throughout the Biden administration, Captain Lobach held the position of military social adviser at the White House.
Captain Lobach’s family honoured her memory through a statement issued by the United States Army.
“She was a luminous presence in each of our lives.” She exhibited kindness, generosity, brilliance, humour, ambition, and strength. “They noted that no individual envisioned greater aspirations or exerted more effort to realise her objectives, stating, ‘Rebecca was a formidable warrior who would not hesitate to defend her nation in combat.'”
Captain Lobach commenced her military service in July 2019 and has accumulated approximately 500 hours of flight experience.
According to the Army, while assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, she received several commendations, including the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defence Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.
