Two U.S. National Guard soldiers and a Border Patrol agent were killed and four others were injured when a helicopter crashed near Rio Grande City, Texas, on Friday, officials said.
The UH-72 Lakota helicopter crashed while “conducting air operations” in the area around 2:50 p.m. local time, the Pentagon's Joint Task Force North said in a statement.
The statement said the helicopter was assigned to a support mission along the southwestern U.S. border.
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The North's joint task force said it would not release the names of those killed until next of kin had been notified. The injured person is a soldier.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
National Guard Director Daniel Hokanson said the deaths of two Army National Guardsmen and a Border Patrol officer were tragic.
“We mourn these heartbreaking deaths. They are tragic losses beyond words,” Hokanson said. said in. “Praying for a speedy recovery for the critically injured Third Guardsman. All of these men provide selfless service and represent the best of America.”
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said at “
Rio Grande City is located on the border of Texas and Mexico.