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3d ago

Pentagon Restores Eight South Carolina Apache Pilots After Flyover Suspension

Political pressure prompted the Pentagon to lift the temporary flight suspensions even though officials have not made the safety‑review findings public.

The Salute from the Shore military flyover takes place every year on the Fourth of July along South Carolina's beaches. This year, four Apache helicopters flown by airmen from the South Carolina Air National Guard joined the flyover for the first time. The eight helicopter pilots have since been grounded from flight operations while an investigation into potential safety violations during the holiday event is conducted. (Credit: WPDE)
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Congressman Russell Fry released a statement following the suspension of eight pilots who flew during last week's Salute to the Shore military flyover. (Credit: Realdanboy)
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Overview

  • The pilots were part of the Salute from the Shore flyover that ran along South Carolina’s coast on Saturday, July 4, and this year included Apache attack helicopters for the first time.
  • The South Carolina National Guard temporarily removed the eight pilots from flight duties while it reviewed the helicopters’ flight profiles after viral videos showed apparent low passes over crowded beaches.
  • State and federal lawmakers publicly criticized the suspensions and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth intervened, saying he would ‘fix’ the situation before the Pentagon acted to reinstate the crews.
  • Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced on Friday that the suspensions were lifted and the pilots returned to flying status, while the Guard and Pentagon have declined to release detailed findings from the review.
  • FAA rules require fixed‑wing planes to stay 500 feet above certain areas but allow helicopters to operate lower if the flight can be conducted safely and follows an approved flight profile, a technical point that remains central to unresolved safety questions.