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However, the North Carolina National Guard has now confirmed that it was their own UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter responsible for the disruption. In a statement posted to Facebook on Tuesday evening, the NCNG acknowledged their involvement.
“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 post read.
The statement went on to explain that the helicopter’s rotor wash, generated while attempting to land, caused significant damage to the relief station. “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 NCNG wrote.
The crew, upon realizing the severity of the situation, immediately aborted the landing. “The crew immediately identified the situation, aborted the landing for safety reasons, and departed the area,” the post continued.
In response to the incident, National Guard officials have grounded the helicopter crew pending a full investigation. “This incident is currently under investigation and the crew has been grounded until the investigation is complete,” the NCNG confirmed in their statement.
The National Guard is also working with local civilian organizations to assess the damage caused by the rotor wash. Although the exact extent of the damage remains unclear, video footage shows tents, papers, and other items being violently scattered around the parking lot by the helicopter’s disruptive flight.
The NCNG emphasized their commitment to safety and precision in all operations, especially given the high volume of air operations currently underway across the region in response to Hurricane Helene.
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“Safety is the NCNG’s number one priority, especially with the high volume of air operations currently happening across the region,” they stated. “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 is committed to addressing and correcting any issues to prevent future occurrences.”
Fortunately, no injuries or significant property damage have been reported as a result of the incident. However, the investigation is ongoing, and the crew responsible will remain grounded until the National Guard completes its review.
As aid efforts continue across the hurricane-impacted region, the NCNG is working to ensure that such a disruption does not happen again. While they have taken full responsibility for the incident, the event has left many asking whether protocols need to be reevaluated to prevent similar mishaps in future relief operations.
