A recent report has shed light on the tragic American Airlines crash that occurred on January 29, 2025, when a Black Hawk military helicopter collided with a commercial airliner, resulting in the loss of all 67 lives on board. According to the investigation, the pilot of the Black Hawk helicopter, Captain Rebecca Lobach, is being held responsible for the crash.
The report reveals that Lobach failed to comply with her co-pilot’s orders to change course, despite warnings from air traffic control and her own crew member, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves. Instead of following instructions, Lobach opted to fly by “visual separation,” a practice that relies on the pilot’s own observation to avoid collisions.
The investigation found that Lobach was flying the helicopter too high, and seconds before the crash, air traffic control instructed her to turn left. However, she failed to do so, and the helicopter collided with the commercial airliner. Eaves had warned Lobach that air traffic control wanted them to turn left, but she did not respond.
Lobach, who had around 500 hours of flying time in the Black Hawk, was conducting her annual flight evaluation with Eaves at the time of the crash. The incident has raised concerns about air traffic control systems, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announcing plans to upgrade airport technology over the next four years to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The investigation is ongoing, and the reasons behind Lobach’s failure to turn left as instructed are still unknown. However, the incident highlights the importance of following safety protocols and the potential consequences of pilot error [1].
