SC Republican calls on National Guard to end suspensions of 8 beach-buzzing Apache pilots

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South Carolina Rep. Russell Fry (R) called on the state’s National Guard on Thursday to lift its suspensions on pilots involved in a Fourth of July flyover show in the Palmetto State.

“The @SCNationalGuard needs to drop this review and restore these pilots immediately,” the Republican lawmaker wrote in a social media post.

“Millions of Americans applauded the incredible display during Salute to the Shore flyover while expressing complete admiration for them & appreciation for our country and military,” he continued. “These pilots should be celebrated, not sanctioned.”

The eight pilots involved in this annual Independence Day show were suspended from flying on Saturday while the incident is reviewed for possible safety violations.

A video of the flyover shows four Apache helicopters flying over the shore while people stood on the sand and swam in the water below.

Maj. Lisa Allen, South Carolina State National Guard public affairs officer, told local station ABC 15 in a statement that the suspensions apply only to flight operations and that the pilots are permitted to continue with nonflying duties. Allen did not specify the length of these suspensions or what specifically was under investigation.

“The safety of our personnel and the communities we fly over remains our top priority, and we take all reports regarding flight safety seriously,” Allen said in a statement.

Capt. Kyle Wise told ABC 15 that the crew reviewed their safety checklist prior to the flyover to ensure they met all standards.

Under the Federal Aviation Administration’s regulations, helicopters are permitted to fly lower than the 500-foot minimum altitude for fixed-wing aircraft.

State Rep. Tim McGinnis (R) echoed Fry’s sentiment in a Thursday statement shared on Facebook, saying he called the South Carolina National Guard and governor’s office to inquire about the reasoning behind these suspensions.

The South Carolina Republican called the suspensions “ridiculous.”

“These pilots helped thousands along our shores celebrate our country and the greatest fighting force in the world,” McGinnis wrote. “They need to be reinstated and allowed to fly immediately to maintain constant readiness.”

Tags

Fourth of July

National Guard

Russell Fry

South Carolina

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