LA GRULLA, TX – A tragic helicopter crash occurred near the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas on Friday, resulting in the death of at least three individuals, including National Guard soldiers and a Border Patrol agent. The crash took place in La Grulla, a border town situated near the Rio Grande in Starr County.
The county’s highest-ranking local official, Starr County Judge Eloy Vera, confirmed the devastating news and added that the fourth individual involved in the crash is in a critical condition. The National Guard soldiers were on federal orders, working on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security at the time of the incident.
The helicopter, identified as a New York National Guard “Lakota,” crashed under yet-to-be-determined circumstances. Investigations are currently underway by local authorities, the National Guard, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to ascertain the cause of the crash.
This incident follows another helicopter crash that happened in January, involving a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter. The co-pilot of the helicopter sustained minor hand injuries, and the helicopter sustained significant damage after it lost power and crashed along the Texas-Mexico border.