UH-72 Lakota helicopter, assigned to the federal government's border security mission, crashed near Rio Grande City in Texas on Friday, killing two National Guard soldiers and a Border Patrol agent, according to a statement released by Joint Task Force North.
Another soldier on board sustained injuries. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. The incident occurred during mid-afternoon while the helicopter was conducting aviation operations, but no further details were provided.
Starr County Judge Eloy Vera, the highest-ranking official in the county, said that among those aboard were one woman and three men. He said that the individual who sustained injuries was in critical condition.
The identities of the deceased were not yet disclosed.
In a social media platform, X, General Daniel Hokanson, leader of the National Guard Bureau, expressed his sorrow for the three individuals who lost their lives and shared his prayers for the quick healing of the injured soldier.
Helicopters were cleared for flight on an individual basis once personnel had finished the required safety training.
The crash occurred in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, according to the Starr County Sheriff's Office. They informed the public on Facebook about their involvement in a helicopter incident on the east side of the county. Vera confirmed that the scene had been secured by the sheriff's office and that federal officials were en route. The border area is regularly patrolled by both state and federal authorities, who conduct regular aerial surveillance.
