Army National Guard orders aviation stand down of helicopters following two Apache crashes

Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, director of the Army National Guard, ordered an aviation stand down of all Guard helicopter units Feb. 26 following two Apache helicopter crashes this month, the Guard announced today.

AH-64D Apache helicopters crashed in Utah Feb. 12, and Mississippi Feb. 23, the latter of which killed two pilots. The two crashes led the Guard to ground all helicopters “for safety reasons,” according to the service. The stand down will allow the units to review safety policies and procedures.

Jensen said in a statement Tuesday that “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.”

In April 2023, then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville ordered a 24-hour aviation stand down following two helicopter crashes that killed 12 soldiers.