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National Guard grounds helicopters days after Mississippi crash

By Kristopher White Feb 28, 2024 | 11:12 AM

BOONEVILLE, Miss. (WJTV) – The director of the Army National Guard ordered an aviation safety stand down of all Army National Guard helicopter units after two recent helicopter crashes. The stand down went into effect on Monday, February 26, so officials can review safety policies and procedures.

Officials said two separate crashes of AH-64D Apache helicopters in Utah on February 12 and Mississippi on February 23 drove the decision to ground all helicopters for safety reasons.

“We are a combat force with helicopters training or on mission worldwide every day,” said Lt. Gen. Jon A. Jensen, director of the Army National Guard. “Safety is always at the top of our minds. We will stand down to ensure all of our crews are prepared as well as possible for whatever they’re asked to do.”

Mississippi Army National Guard pilots Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bryan Andrew Zemek and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Joshua Abbott died in the February 23 crash near Booneville.

  • Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bryan Andrew Zemek (Courtesy: Mississippi National Guard)
  • Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Joshua Abbott (Courtesy: Mississippi National Guard)

The helicopter “flying a routine training flight,” the Mississippi National Guard said after the crash. Janson D. Boyles, the adjutant general of Mississippi, said the accident is under investigation and did not offer additional details.