3 killed in National Guard helicopter crash in Texas

2025-04-20 09:59:25 source: category:Contact

Three people were killed when a U.S. National Guard helicopter crashed Friday on the Texas southern border, officials said.

A UH-72 Lakota helicopter crashed just before 4 p.m., local time, while on a support mission near Rio Grande City along the U.S-Mexico border, according to a statement from Joint Task Force North.

Two soldiers and one U.S. Border Patrol agent were killed and another soldier was injured.

The cause is under investigation, JTF-North said. 

In a statement Saturday, President Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden "extend our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones, as well as their colleagues in the National Guard and U.S. Border Patrol. We pray for the injured Guardsman's swift recovery."

A National Guard spokesperson previously told CBS News that the helicopter went down in La Grulla, Texas, located about 40 miles west of the border city of McAllen.

— Camilo Montoya-Galvez contributed to this report. 

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correctly identify the helicopter as a UH-72 Lakota.

    In:
  • Helicopter Crash
  • Texas
Faris Tanyos

Faris Tanyos is a news editor for CBSNews.com, where he writes and edits stories and tracks breaking news. He previously worked as a digital news producer at several local news stations up and down the West Coast.

More:Contact

Recommend

Beware of giant spiders: Thousands of tarantulas to emerge in 3 states for mating season

No, it's not an omen or a weird biblical sign of the apocalypse. Thousands of tarantulas are venturi

What’s streaming now: ‘Barbie,’ Dan & Shay, ‘The Morning Show’ and ‘Welcome to Wrexham’

Tunes from Dan & Shay and Vic Mensa plus a genre-blending Hulu series “The Other Black Girl” set

A preacher to death row inmates says he wants to end executions. Critics warn he’s only seeking fame

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — With just weeks left before his scheduled execution, Oklahoma death row inmate