A helicopter flying near the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, which was carrying a border patrol agent and National Guardsmen, crashed on Friday afternoon, killing three and injuring one, according to a report by the Associated Press.
via the AP:
LA GRULLA, Texas (AP) — A helicopter flying over the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas crashed Friday, killing two National Guard soldiers and a Border Patrol agent, the military said. Another soldier on board was injured.
The UH-72 Lakota helicopter was assigned to the federal government’s border security mission when it went down near Rio Grande City, according to a statement released by Joint Task Force North. The cause was under investigation.
The crash happened mid-afternoon Friday while the helicopter was conducting aviation operations, according to the statement.
Starr County Judge Eloy Vera, the county’s top official, said those on board included one woman and three men. He said the person who was injured was in critical condition.
Vera continued, saying that the sheriff’s office had secured the scene of the crash, and federal law enforcement was expected to take part in the investigation.
The report added that the names of those killed have not been released, at the time of this writing.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin shared one of the first reports of the crash on his X account:
BREAKING: Per sources, there are “multiple fatalities” after a federalized National Guard helicopter w/ 3 National Guard soldiers working under federal Title 10 orders and a Border Patrol agent on board crashed in the RGV in La Grulla, TX this afternoon.
They were not working… pic.twitter.com/axsHqMXFwr— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 9, 2024
The post reads:
BREAKING: Per sources, there are “multiple fatalities” after a federalized National Guard helicopter w/ 3 National Guard soldiers working under federal Title 10 orders and a Border Patrol agent on board crashed in the RGV in La Grulla, TX this afternoon.
They were not working under the state of TX/Operation Lone Star. This was federal.
I’ve reached out to CBP for comment. Developing situation and more as I get it.
He added that, per a source in the Border Patrol, some cartel members allegedly captured a video of the helicopter just before and after it crashed. They can be heard on video celebrating the tragedy:
BREAKING: Per Border Patrol source, cartel members were watching the helicopter on their drone when it crashed, then they zoomed into the crash site and laughed about it. Posted on cartel social media. The La Grulla area sees frequent cartel activity via drug & human smuggling. pic.twitter.com/WC9IhFolat
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 9, 2024
This is a developing story. RedState will bring you more updates as they become available.
UPDATE: The DoD Joint Task Force North has confirmed more information about the servicemembers involved in the crash:
The Department of Defense Joint Task Force North confirmed two of the deceased were soldiers and the other was a U.S. Border Patrol member. The fourth person injured was a soldier. The DoD said the crash is under investigation.
