ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Guard Bureau announced today the deaths of two Army National Guard Soldiers killed in a helicopter crash Friday while supporting the federal Southwest border mission.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski, 28, of Rensselaer, N.Y., and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia, 30, of Schenectady, N.Y., died when their UH-72 Lakota helicopter crashed near Rio Grande City, Texas, at approximately 2:50 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on March 8, 2024.
Frankoski and Grassia were assigned to Detachment 2, Company A, 1st of the 224th Aviation Regiment, New York Army National Guard.
A U.S. Border Patrol agent also died in the crash and another New York Army National Guard Soldier was seriously injured.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
For additional information contact: Joint Task Force North Public Affairs at (915) 497-0655
or email ryan.t.wierzbicki.mil@army.mil; or the New York National Guard Public Affairs Office at (518) 786-4581 or email ng.ny.nyarng.list.mnpa@army.mil.