Two Mississippi National Guard pilots were killed in a helicopter crash Friday afternoon, the state’s governor announced.
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi said that an AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday. The crash took place during a routine training mission, Reeves posted.
“Today at approximately 2pm, the Mississippi National Guard experienced an Apache AH-64 helicopter crash during a routine training flight in Prentiss County,” Reeves posted. “Tragically, both Guardsmen on board did not survive. Safety crews are currently working the scene of the crash with local authorities.”
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“Please join @firstladyofms and me in praying for the two Guardsmen and their families,” Reeves continued. “Mississippi will always be grateful for their service and we will never forget them.”
A Utah Army National Guard AH-64D Apache Longbow crashed last week, injuring the two-person crew, Fox News reported. The helicopter ended up on its side during a routine training exercise, according to KUTV, a Utah CBS affiliate.
Five Marines were killed when their CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter crashed on Feb. 6 while flying from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.
The military grounded all of its V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft in December after an Air Force CV-22 crashed, killing all eight personnel on board.
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The AH-64 Apache entered service in 1984, with over 2,700 produced and has been purchased by 17 countries, according to Boeing’s website. The Apache has a 30mm chain gun with 1,200 rounds of ammunition and can carry AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, 70mm Hydra rockets, AIM-92 Stinger missiles and auxiliary fuel tanks, according to MilitaryFactory.com.
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