'Heartbreaking': Internet mourns as 3 killed after National Guard helicopter crashes near Texas-Mexico border

RIO GRANDE CITY, TEXAS: The serene calm of the southern Texas border was shattered on Friday, March 8, evening when a National Guard helicopter crashed in a tragic incident, leaving three individuals dead and one critically injured.

The helicopter, a UH-72 Lakota, was conducting a routine border patrol operation near Rio Grande City, monitoring and following individuals attempting to cross the border illegally from Mexico, as per AP News.

The somber news rippled through the online community, eliciting an outpouring of grief and condolences from netizens across the country.

Downed aircraft functioned as the United States Army's light utility helicopter since 2006

According to Joint Task Force North, an operation under the Defense Department that supports Customs and Border Protection with National Guard units, the UH-72 Lakota helicopter was conducting a routine border patrol operation near the southern border when disaster struck around 2:50 pm.

The aircraft was following individuals attempting to cross the border illegally when it went down in a catastrophic crash.

Major Ryan Wierzbicki, a spokesman for Joint Task Force North, confirmed that two of the deceased were soldiers from the Army National Guard, while the third victim was a Border Patrol agent. The identities of the victims have not been released pending notification of their families.

The downed aircraft has functioned as the United States Army's light utility helicopter since 2006, as confirmed by Airbus, the company responsible for its manufacture. The incident is currently under investigation, and the cause of the crash remains unknown.

It's crucial to emphasize that the National Guard unit involved in the crash had no connection to Operation Lone Star, the border initiative spearheaded by the state of Texas.

Internet erupts with condolences

In response to the tragic news, the online community swiftly extended heartfelt condolences. One user on Facebook expressed their empathy, stating, "Praying for the crew, their families and friends. So very sad." Another user conveyed their sympathy, saying, "My condolences to their families."

One individual shared their support, writing, "Praying for all the family members. May God give them strength to get through this horrible tragedy." Another person added, "This is very sad; thoughts and prayers for their families."

A user succinctly captured the shared sentiment with a poignant word, "Heartbreaking." Meanwhile, one user reflected on the profound impact, expressing, "My heart breaks for the families of those who lost their lives."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.