LA GRULLA, Texas (AP) — A National Guard soldier from New York who was significantly injured within the crash of a helicopter flying over the U.S.-Mexico border remained hospitalized Sunday whereas authorities launched the names of the 2 National Guard troopers and a Border Patrol agent onboard who have been killed.
The three killed Friday within the crash in a subject in Texas close to Rio Grande City have been: Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski, 28, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia, 30, each with the New York National Guard; and Border Patrol Agent Chris Luna, 49. The reason behind the crash stays below investigation.
The UH-72 Lakota helicopter was assigned to the federal authorities’s border safety mission when it went down whereas the helicopter was conducting aviation operations, in keeping with an announcement launched by Joint Task Force North, a navy unit that helps Customs and Border Protection. No different particulars have been offered.
The injured soldier was from the New York National Guard, in keeping with the National Guard Bureau. The soldier, whose identify isn’t being launched, was the plane crew chief. The soldier remained hospitalized, in keeping with a information launch posted by the New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs.
Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant normal of New York, stated within the launch that they’re “shocked and devastated” by the deaths of Frankoski and Grassia, and are “praying for the quick recovery” of the injured crew chief.
Troy Miller, performing commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, stated in an announcement that they have been “heartbroken” by the loss of life of Luna, who’s survived by his spouse and two youngsters, mother and father and brother.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated in an announcement that they’re hoping for the injured nationwide guardsman’s “swift recovery,” and stated his ideas and the “deepest condolences” of the division have been with the households of these killed.
Grassia, who was a New York state trooper, was from Schenectady, New York, and he enlisted within the New York Army National Guard in 2013 as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter upkeep specialist, in keeping with the New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs. The launch stated that Frankoski, of Rensselaer, New York, enlisted within the New York Army National Guard in 2016 and she or he educated to turn into a UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72 Lakota helicopter pilot.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul stated in an announcement that she was “deeply saddened” by the deaths of Grassia and Frankoski.
“There is no greater calling than service to and defense of your country,” she stated.
Frankoski and Grassia have been assigned to Detachment 2, Company A, 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment. Luna was assigned to the Border Patrol’s Rio Grande City Station.
The helicopter that crashed was assigned to the District of Columbia Army National Guard, in keeping with the New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs launch.
The border area is closely patrolled by each state and federal authorities, together with routine aerial surveillance.
In January, a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter patrolling the state’s border with Mexico misplaced energy and crashed, officers stated on the time. The co-pilot suffered a minor hand damage and the helicopter was considerably broken. That helicopter was flying as a part of Operation Lone Star, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s almost $10 billion border mission that has examined the federal authorities’s authority over immigration.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”