Helicopter Crash Kills Two National Guard Members

Two members of the Mississippi Army National Guard died Friday afternoon after their AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed near Booneville.

The helicopter went down around 2 p.m. local time during a “routine training flight.”

“Today at approximately 2pm, the Mississippi National Guard experienced an Apache AH-64 helicopter crash during a routine training flight in Prentiss County. Tragically, both Guardsmen on board did not survive. Safety crews are currently working the scene of the crash with local authorities,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said.

Today at approximately 2pm, the Mississippi National Guard experienced an Apache AH-64 helicopter crash during a routine training flight in Prentiss County. Tragically, both Guardsmen on board did not survive. Safety crews are currently working the scene of the crash with local…

— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) February 23, 2024

NBC News reports:

The victims have not been publicly identified, but the Mississippi National Guard said one was a member of its A Company 1-149 Aviation Regiment Unit while the other was assigned to its D Company 2-151 Lakota Medical Evacuation Unit.

“Our paramount concern at this time is to ensure proper casualty assistance is conducted to support the surviving family members,” the Mississippi National Guard said.

The two-seat AH-64 Apache was on a routine training flight when it was reported down in a wooded area about 2 p.m., the Mississippi National Guard said in a statement.

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The sheriff of Prentiss County, Randy Tolar, told NBC affiliate WLBT of Jackson that the aircraft went down off Highway 30 near Mount Olive Baptist Church.

BREAKING: 2 Mississippi National Guard members killed in helicopter crash during training flight https://t.co/tkkLVK0ONa

— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 23, 2024

MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD STATEMENT ON CRASHED APACHE AH-64 HELICOPTER

“The Mississippi National Guard is reporting a military helicopter crash today near Boonville, Miss., in Prentiss County. The military aircraft was an AH-64 Apache, flying a routine training flight. The… https://t.co/KXoVaUy7hE pic.twitter.com/uhIJFaNhgD

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 23, 2024

Army Times added:

The Mississippi crash is the second Apache crash this month and the third known Apache accident since an Army-wide aviation safety stand down in April 2023.

An Apache helicopter from the Utah National Guard went down near Salt Lake City on Feb. 12, injuring the National Guard soldier and Air Force pilot who were aboard. In May 2023, two pilots from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade were injured when their Apache crashed near Yakima Training Center, Washington.

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