NOTE: Many of the tweets in this article claim that the helicopter and crew belong to the Connecticut Army National Guard. Though it is operating in western NC for disaster relief, it is not to blame. Rather, the helicopter and crew belong to the North Carolina National Guard, as provided in the statement released by it. We thought it was important to add this note for clarity.
Following a recent incident in North Carolina where a helicopter destroyed a critical aid station in a parking lot, outraged users on social media have attempted to identify the aircraft and hold the pilot accountable. Reports indicate that users on X may have successfully identified the helicopter, supposedly tracing it back to the Connecticut National Guard. That identification appears incorrect.
Footage of the incident went viral across social media, showing an unidentified black helicopter hovering low to the ground, perhaps trying to land around the aid site. However, as it hovered too close to the ground, the wind force generated by the helicopter unleashed destruction on the site, kicking up tents and other resources that flew across the parking lot.
The popular X account Amuse posted an update on X, writing, “DISASTER RELIEF? There were a number of videos taken in the last few days that showed military helicopters hovering over civilian aid operations causing disruption, damage, and injuries. It is unclear if these incidents were accidental or intentional. @TonySeruga tracked down the Black Hawk helicopter seen in the video below. It belongs to the Connecticut Army National Guard.” That is incorrect, it was a North Carolina National Guard helicopter.
While retweeting a statement from the North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) about the incident, Amuse posted an update that read, “The Black Hawk crew from the CT National Guard has been grounded as the incident in NC is under investigation.” The NCNG confirmed that the helicopter in question was attempting to land, accidentally destroying part of the site, also noting that it was a NCNG helicopter, not a Connecticut one.
“The North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) is aware of an incident involving a NCNG UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a delivery of generators at the request of a local civilian organization to power their distribution outpost in western North Carolina,” the statement read, noting that the helicopter belonged to the NCNG. “While attempting to land, rotor wash caused items to blow away from the local distribution set up by a group of civilians in the area. The crew immediately identified the situation, aborted the landing for safety reasons, and departed the area.”
The National Guard continued, “This incident is currently under investigation, and the crew has been grounded until the investigation is complete. The NCNG is working with the identified local civilian organization to assess the level of damage caused by the rotor wash. Safety is the NCNG’s number one priority, especially with the high volume of air operations currently happening across the region. While the NCNG strives for precision in every mission, sometimes things don’t go as planned. When that happens, the NCNG takes it very seriously and are committed to addressing and correcting any issues to prevent future occurrences.
Another user in the comments, citing their personal experience as a helicopter pilot, wrote, “I’m a helicopter pilot, both Army CWO and civilian rotor wing instrument rated. They need to make a formal complaint to the FAA so they can investigate. The pilot violated a host of flight and safety rules. The military is not immune. The pilot and whoever exerted command pressure to cause the violation can be prosecuted. Additionally, anyone injured or suffered a material loss can file a complaint and sue for relief. Make them pay.”
Watch footage of the incident below:
