The temporary suspension of eight Apache helicopter pilots from the South Carolina National Guard has been lifted, hours after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth publicly called for the reversal. The pilots were involved in the state's annual "Salute from the Shore" event on July Fourth.
Video footage of the flyover, which involved Apache attack helicopters flying low along the South Carolina coast, circulated online. The pilots, members of the South Carolina National Guard’s Alpha 1-151 Attack Battalion, were subsequently suspended. A spokesperson for the South Carolina National Guard confirmed the suspension on Thursday, stating it was a "routine administrative measure whenever a flight profile is under review."
The Guard clarified that the action was not disciplinary and that the soldiers were continuing their daily duties in a non-flying capacity. The review has since been completed.
Low-altitude flying carries inherent risks, including the potential for debris to scatter and reduced time for pilots to react to emergencies.
The suspension drew criticism from state and federal lawmakers. Republican Rep. Russell Fry of South Carolina urged the National Guard to "drop this review and restore these pilots immediately," stating they "should be celebrated, not sanctioned." South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster also voiced his disapproval, questioning the necessity of the suspension given the pilots' presumed familiarity with safely navigating the local coast.
Hegseth publicly addressed the situation on Thursday evening, vowing to "fix" the suspension and stating, "We’ll fix this. Carry on, Patriots." Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced the suspension's immediate lifting on Friday, echoing Hegseth's sentiment.
This is not the first instance of Hegseth intervening in the suspension of Apache pilots. In late March, a similar situation involving two Apache helicopters flying low near a residence resulted in their suspension being rolled back shortly after its announcement, with Hegseth also taking credit for that resolution.
Apache helicopters have been a primary attack aircraft for the Army since the 1980s, seeing extensive use in combat operations and currently deployed in ongoing conflicts.