RIO GRANDE CITY, TX – According to officials, a military helicopter crashed in Rio Grande City, Texas, on Friday afternoon, leading to the death of two U.S. National Guard members and a Border Patrol agent. Another soldier who was on the helicopter was also critically injured.
The helicopter was a UH-72 Lakota model, and the aircraft went down around 2:50 p.m. while carrying out aviation operations in the region revealed the U.S. Defense Department’s Joint Task Force North. The helicopter that crashed was part of a Southwest border support mission.
As per standard procedure, the names of the deceased individuals will only be disclosed after their families have been notified. The injured soldier’s identity has also not been revealed to the public as of yet.
The causes behind the tragic accident are currently under investigation. In response to the devastating incident, National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Daniel Hokanson took to X to mourn the soldiers’ deaths, stating they are “a tragic loss beyond words.” He also wished for the speedy recovery of the critically injured soldier.
In addition, Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn expressed his “deepest condolences” to the affected families on X. The crash site, Rio Grande City, is positioned on the Texas-Mexico border.