Black Hawk pilot Rachel Lobach ignored instructions before mid-air collision over Potomac River

The pilot of the Black Hawk military helicopter that collided with a passenger airplane over Washington, DC, in January ignored instructions to change course moments before the crash took place, according to a report by the New York Times.

Captain Rebecca Lobach, piloting the Black Hawk, was undergoing an annual flight evaluation at the time, while her co-pilot, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, served as the flight instructor. Air traffic controllers had warned the helicopter crew about a nearby passenger airliner, and both Lobach and Eaves acknowledged the warning, opting to proceed under "visual separation.” This is a method where pilots are allowed to continue flying in the area by using their own observations rather than adhering to instructions from air traffic control. 

The report said the Black Hawk was only 15 seconds from crossing paths with the passenger jet when Eaves informed Lobach that he believed air traffic control wanted them to turn left toward the east river bank.

"Turning left would have opened up more space between the helicopter and Flight 5342, which was heading for Runway 33 at an altitude of roughly 300 feet. She did not turn left," the New York Times reported.

Lobach served as an aviation officer in the Army since July 2019 and had around 500 hours of flying time in the Black Hawk, the Army confirmed in a release. She was also a White House military social aide under the Biden administration.

The crash took place on January 29 over the Potomac River, killing all 64 passengers who were onboard an American Airlines Flight from Kansas as well as the three Black Hawk crew members. The helicopter appeared to be flying too high at the time of the collision. Additionally, radio communication between controllers and pilots broke down.

“Multiple layers of safety precautions failed that night,” said Katie Thomson, the Federal Aviation Administration’s deputy administrator under President Biden.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to issue a final report on the causes of the crash in 2026.

Following the crash, President Trump posted to Truth: "The airplane was on a perfect and routine line of approach to the airport. The helicopter was going straight at the airplane for an extended period of time. It is a CLEAR NIGHT, the lights on the plane were blazing, why didn't the helicopter go up or down, or turn.” “Why didn't the control tower tell the helicopter what to do instead of asking if they saw the plane. This is a bad situation that looks like it should have been prevented. NOT GOOD!!!”