The identities of two Mississippi National Guard soldiers killed when the helicopter they were riding in crashed Friday afternoon have been revealed.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves identified the men as Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brian Andrew Zemek, 36, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Joshua Abbott, 42. Statement on social media.
mississippi national guard
Zemek served as an AH-64 Delta Apache standardization instructor pilot with 1st Battalion, Alpha Company, 149th Aviation Regiment, and Abbott served as a maintenance test pilot with 2nd Battalion, Delta Company, 151st Lakota Medical Evacuation Unit.
The men were on a routine training flight in an AH-64 Apache helicopter when the plane crashed in a wooded area near Boonville, Mississippi, around 2 p.m. local time on Friday, Reeves said.
mississippi national guard
“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families and friends of our fallen soldiers,” Reeves said on social media. “We will always remember the honorable service of these dedicated soldiers and we mourn with their families during this tragic time.” It's nightfall,'' he said. “With heavy hearts, let us always remember that it is because of the courage and bravery of the men and women of our armed forces that we are able to preserve the freedoms we hold dear. Today and every day, we Let us express our gratitude and appreciation to those who have worn and continue to wear the uniform to protect our state and nation.”
Safety workers were working with local authorities at the scene of the accident. The Mississippi National Guard said in a news release that the crash will be investigated.
Booneville is located in the northeast corner of the state, near the Alabama-Tennessee border.
