Officials disclosed the identities of two National Guard soldiers and one Border Patrol agent who died in a helicopter crash near the U.S.-Mexico border. The crash, involving a National Guard Lakota UH-72 helicopter, happened just before 4 p.m. local time on Friday, as reported by the Department of Defense’s Joint Task Force North. The incident occurred near Rio Grande City, Texas.
The fallen National Guard members were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski, 28, from Rensselaer, New York, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia, 30, from Schenectady. The crash also claimed the life of Border Patrol Agent Chris Luna, as acknowledged by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who extended his deepest condolences to the families, loved ones, and colleagues of the deceased.
The incident, which resulted in one additional National Guardsman being injured, occurred during what officials described as routine operations related to the federal Southwest border support mission.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, with officials examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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