NC National Guard helicopter crew grounded after ‘rotor wash’ incident blows away Helene aid

RALEIGH, N.C. ( WNCN ) – The North Carolina National Guard says a Black Hawk helicopter crew was grounded after an incident in which they flew low over a Hurricane Helene donation and supply area, blowing over three tents and scattering items in the air.

Video of the incident surfaced after the helicopter hovered over the supply area in Burnsville on Sunday. One person who recorded the video said that the incident “seemed deliberate.”

Guard officials said Tuesday that the aircraft was a North Carolina National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter making a delivery of generators.

After the items were blown away, “The crew immediately identified the situation, aborted the landing for safety reasons, and departed the area.”

The National Guard said officials are working with the aid organization at the scene to “assess the level of damage caused by the rotor wash.”

Guard officials also said the incident was under investigation.

“Safety is the NCNG’s number one priority, especially with the high volume of air operations currently happening across the region,” the National Guard wrote.

The Connecticut National Guard initially believed the helicopter was their Black Hawk, but Connecticut officials later said it was a North Carolina National Guard incident.

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