In a detailed examination of the tragic January collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and a passenger jet in Washington, D.C., The New York Times disclosed a critical detail only towards the end of its report.
The female helicopter pilot, Army Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, did not adhere to the instructions of her male flight instructor, which ultimately led to the catastrophe.
On the night of January 29, Capt. Lobach was undergoing her annual flight evaluation. "That night, her assignment was to navigate the conditions of a scenario in which members of Congress or other senior government officials might need to be carried out of the nations capital during an attack," the Times reported.
Despite being the highest-ranking soldier on board, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, her instructor, had accumulated more than twice her flight hours, as noted by the outlet.
According to Western Journal, the Army's news release stated that Lobach became an aviation officer in 2019, and her family confirmed she had over 450 flight hours. Her training route took her along the Potomac River, near Reagan National Airport, where a critical miscommunication occurred. The flight controller instructed the helicopter to pass behind American Airlines Flight 5342, which was landing. "PAT two-five, do you have the CRJ in sight?" the controller asked, referencing the Canadair Regional Jet model of Flight 5342.
Some former military pilots suggested that the controller's directive to pass behind the jet was an extra precaution, especially under see-and-avoid conditions, and that an experienced Black Hawk crew should have managed without assistance. However, some regulators and controllers mentioned that the controller could have been even more proactive by specifying the distance between the two aircraft.
Instead of maneuvering to avoid Flight 5342, Lobach continued on a straight path. Warrant Officer Eaves communicated to the tower, "PAT two-five has the aircraft in sight. Request visual separation," indicating their intention to avoid the jet. The controller approved this request, responding, "Vis sep approved." At this juncture, the Black Hawk was merely 15 seconds from intersecting with Flight 5342.
Eaves instructed Lobach to turn left toward the east bank of the Potomac, but she failed to comply. The resulting collision claimed the lives of 64 passengers and crew on Flight 5342, as well as Lobach, Eaves, and another crewmember on the helicopter.
The incident has sparked discussions on social media, with some attributing the crash to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. While it remains uncertain if DEI played a role, it raises questions about whether Lobach was held to a different standard due to her gender or other DEI considerations. Regardless, the evidence suggests pilot error was the primary cause, a fact that the Times eventually acknowledged.
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