Two days after the tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, the U.S. Army released an official statement on their website regarding the incident. They confirmed that the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed “while conducting a training mission near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.”
Speculation arose that the Black Hawk’s training mission was a drill designed to simulate the evacuation of the White House. Eventually, defense sources confirmed the nature of the operation to CBS News.
It was revealed that the helicopter was retraining the emergency evacuation route for the president, a critical component of a broader contingency plan for the continuity of government in times of crisis.
The Continuity of Government (COG) mission, as outlined by the government, is a strategy aimed at maintaining the functioning of the government during a major disaster or attack on Washington, D.C. As part of this plan, every federal agency must develop a protocol for mass evacuation and relocation from the capital region, including securing key individuals and infrastructure.
The U.S. Army has identified one of the military personnel involved in the crash as Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, aged 28, from Lilburn, Georgia.
The other pilot, whose body has not yet been found, is listed as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, from Great Mills, Maryland. His status remains as DUSTWUN (Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown).
Initially, the name of the third pilot, who was female, was withheld per the family’s request. However, the U.S. Army later identified her as Captain Rebecca M. Lobach, 31, from Durham, North Carolina.
Captain Lobach had served as a White House military social aide during the Biden administration. Her family honored her through a statement released by the Army, describing her as a bright, strong, and compassionate individual who was dedicated to her goals and country.
Captain Lobach had joined the army in July 2019, amassing around 500 hours of flight time. Assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, her awards included the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon.
