At least two people were killed when a National Guard helicopter crashed near the southern Texas border, according to reports.
The helicopter crashed in La Grulla, a small town in Starr County on the Rio Grande River, authorities said. told Border Report.
According to the newspaper, one National Guard and three Border Patrol agents were on board the helicopter at the time of the crash.
The crash involved a “military helicopter working with the Border Patrol at the direction of the federal government,” said Texas Department of Public Safety Southern Region Director Victor Escalon. told Nexstar.
The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that the helicopter was not involved in Operation Lone Star, a border patrol operation that utilizes the National Guard and other law enforcement forces.
The newspaper has contacted the National Guard, Customs and Border Protection and local agencies for additional information.
Border Patrol sources he told FOX News’ Bill Melgin. Mexican cartel members were reportedly monitoring the helicopter with a drone when it crashed.
They zoomed their cameras into the sunken ship and laughter could be heard in the clip posted on the cartel’s social media.
National Guard stated in a statement On February 27, its director, Lt. Gen. John A. Jensen, “ordered an air safety shutdown of all Army National Guard helicopter units to review safety policies and procedures following two recent helicopter crashes.” ” announced.
This action temporarily grounded all of the department’s helicopter fleet.
On February 23, two National Guard members were killed when a military helicopter crashed into a wooded area during a training mission in Mississippi.
On February 12, two National Guard pilots hospitalization After a helicopter crash during a training exercise in Utah. Both of these crashes involved AH-64 Apaches.
On February 6, five U.S. Marines were killed when a military helicopter crashed in the mountains of San Diego due to rough weather.
