Black Hawk pilot didn't follow flight instructor prior to collision over Washington, DC: NYT report

"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," read the report

Published: April 27, 2025 6:51pm

The military Black Hawk helicopter pilot that crashed into a passenger airplane in the Washington, D.C. area in January did not follow her flight instructor just before the accident, according to an investigative report from the New York Times on Sunday.

The collision resulted in the death of 67 people.

The report said that Capt. Rebecca Lobach, the pilot, was doing her annual flight evaluation and Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Loyd Eaves, was her flight instructor that day.

"The Black Hawk was 15 seconds away from crossing paths with the jet. Warrant Officer Eaves then turned his attention to Captain Lobach. He told her he believed that air traffic control wanted them to turn left, toward the east river bank," read the NYT report. "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."

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