Two National Guard soldiers, Border Patrol agent identified after deadly helicopter crash

Authorities have identified two New York National Guard soldiers and a U.S. Border Patrol agent who died when a helicopter that flew over the U.S.-Mexico border crashed Friday in field in southern Texas.

The service members killed in the crash near Rio Grande City were New York National Guard soldiers Casey Frankoski, 28, and John Grassia, 30; and Chris Luna, 49, a border patrol agent, according to the National Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement. An aircraft crew chief with the New York National Guard, whose name has not been released, was injured and remained in the hospital.

On Friday, around 2:50 p.m. local time, a UH-72 Lakota helicopter assigned to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on the southwest border crashed during "aviation operations" near Rio Grande City, 41 miles west of McAllen, according to the Joint Task Force North. The cause of the crash was unknown.

Major General Ray Shields, adjutant general of New York, said in a statement that he was "shocked and devastated" by the deaths of Grassia and Frankoski. He sent prayers for the quick recovery of the crew chief and condolences to Luna's family.

Frankoski, of Rensselaer, New York, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in October 2016 and quickly rose through the ranks, earning more than 10 service medals and military awards, according to the New York National Guard. She had trained to become a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot.

In 2013, Grassia, of Schenectady, New York, enlisted in the New York Army National Guard as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintenance specialist, according to New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs. He was promoted to the rank of chief warrant officer 2 in 2020 after serving as part of the guard's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grassia was a trooper with the New York State Police since April 2022, according to a Facebook post by the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association.

Frankoski and Grassia and served in Kuwait and most recently were assigned to a company of the 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment, which is part of Joint Task Force North, according to the military and naval affairs division.

Troy A. Miller, senior official performing the duties of the commissioner with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said that he was "heartbroken" by Luna's death and that he and the entire agency were mourning alongside his family, including his wife and two children.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said he was "devastated" by the loss: "Every single day, our Border Patrol Agents place themselves in harm’s way so that the rest of us can be safe and secure. My thoughts, and the deepest condolences of our Department, are with Agent Luna’s family, loved ones, and colleagues, and with those of the National Guardsmen who lost their lives."

The UH-72 is a twin-engine helicopter typically used in support of local and state government and law enforcement; it does not conduct missions in combat or hostile environments, according to the military and naval affairs division. The New York National Guard has been deploying UH-72 pilots and support personnel to the southwest border in support of the Border Patrol since 2014.

The helicopter that went down Friday was assigned to the District of Columbia Army National Guard. It was not operating as part of Operation Lone Star, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's nearly $10 billion border security initiative. In January, a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border lost power and crashed, leaving the co-pilot with a minor hand injury and heavily damaging the helicopter.

Contributing: The Associated Press