[[{“value”:”A National Guard helicopter crashed near the U.S. southern border in Texas Friday afternoon, causing multiple fatalities.
“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,” said Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin.
“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.”
“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,” Melugin added.
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
According to Fox News, the crash killed at least three on board.
Per Fox News:
The helicopter went down in La Grulla, a border town that sits near the Rio Grande in Starr County.
Starr County Judge Eloy Vera, the county’s top local official, said the fourth person was in critical condition.
Law enforcement sources told Fox News that the three National Guard soldiers were working on federal orders on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security.
The helicopter was a New York National Guard “Lakota.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Starr County Sheriff’s Office, the National Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“A UH-72 Lakota helicopter assigned to the federal Southwest border support mission crashed at approximately 2:50 p.m. MST today while conducting aviation operations near Rio Grande City, Texas. Two Soldiers and one U.S. Border Patrol agent were killed. One Soldier was injured,” a press release from Joint Task Force North read.
U.S. military confirms 3 dead and 1 injured in Texas helicopter crash pic.twitter.com/1C9pHAO6Du
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) March 9, 2024
Helicopter with National Guardsmen aboard crashed along U.S.-Mexico border, killing 3: authorities | Just The News https://t.co/Tim3dVgZjZ
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) March 9, 2024
UPDATE: At least 3 killed, including National Guard pilots and a Border Patrol agent, in Texas helicopter crash. 1 survivor in critical condition – NN/KXAN https://t.co/LKXdOFf5ii
— BNO News (@BNONews) March 8, 2024
WATCH:
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Multiple fatalities were caused by a National Guard helicopter that crashed near the southern border of the United States in Texas on Friday afternoon.
Bill Melugin, Fox News’ national correspondent, said: “According to sources, there were’multiple deaths’ after a federalized National Guard chopper with 3 National Guard soldiers on board working under federal Title 10 and a Border Patrol agent crashed in the RGV, La Grulla, TX, this afternoon.”
“They did not work under the state of TX/Operation Lone Star. This was federal. I’ve contacted CBP to get their comment. “Developing situation and I will update you as soon as I have more information.”
“According to a Border Patrol source, cartels were watching the helicopter from their drone when it crashed. They then zoomed in on the crash site and laughed. Posted on cartel social networks. Melugin said that cartel activity in the La Grulla region is a frequent occurrence, involving drug and human smuggling.
BREAKING: According to a Border Patrol source, cartels were watching the helicopter from their drone when it crashed. They then zoomed in on the crash site and laughed. Post on cartel social networks. La Grulla is a frequent area of cartel activity, involving drug & people smuggling. pic.twitter.com/WC9IhFolat
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 9, 2024
Fox News reports that the crash resulted in at least three deaths.
Fox News:
The helicopter crashed in La Grulla in Starr County, a border city located near the Rio Grande.
Starr County Judge Eloy vera, the county’s top official, confirmed that the fourth person is in critical condition.
Fox News reported that law enforcement sources said the three National Guardsmen were following federal orders for the Department of Homeland Security.
The helicopter was an “Lakota” of the New York National Guard.
Fox News Digital reached out to Starr County Sheriff’s Office and the National Guard, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“A UH-72 Lakota chopper assigned to the federal Southwest Border Support mission crashed today at approximately 2:50 pm MST while conducting aviation operations near Rio Grande City in Texas. Two soldiers and one U.S. Border Patrol Agent were killed. A press release from Joint Task Force North stated that “One Soldier was injured”.
U.S. military confirms 3 dead and 1 injured in Texas helicopter crash pic.twitter.com/1C9pHAO6Du
BNO News Live @BNODesk March 9, 2024
Helicopter with National Guardsmen aboard crashed along U.S.-Mexico border, killing 3: authorities | Just The News https://t.co/Tim3dVgZjZ
John Solomon (@jsolomonReports), March 9, 2024
UPDATE: Three people, including two National Guard pilots, were killed in a helicopter crash in Texas. 1 survivor in critical condition – NN/KXAN https://t.co/LKXdOFf5ii
BNO News (@BNONews), March 8, 2024
WATCH:
“}]]
