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.
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.