US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that he will “fix” the suspension of eight South Carolina Army National Guard AH-64 Apache pilots, marking the second time in four months that he has intervened in a US Army safety review triggered by a viral helicopter flyby.
The pilots were suspended from flight duties after flying four Apache helicopters low across crowded beaches during ‘Salute from the Shore’, an annual July 4 flyover that runs the length of the South Carolina coastline from Cherry Grove to Beaufort. The 2026 edition, which celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States, was the first to feature Apache helicopters.
Videos showing the aircraft passing low over beachgoers and swimmers were circulated widely on social media. The helicopters were identified as belonging to the 1-151st Attack Battalion, based at McEntire Joint National Guard Base near Columbia, South Carolina.
We’ll fix this. Carry on, Patriots. https://t.co/mJXcG7BNDM
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) July 10, 2026
“We’ll fix this. Carry on, Patriots,” Hegseth wrote on X late on July 9, 2026, hours after the suspensions were first reported by local media.
Guard calls suspension routine and non-punitive
The South Carolina National Guard (SCNG) confirmed the suspensions on July 9, 2026, describing them as a routine, non-punitive administrative measure.
“A temporary suspension from flight duties is a routine administrative measure whenever a flight profile is under review,” SCNG said in a statement, adding that the pilots remain in good standing and continue to report for non-flying duties.
The suspensions drew criticism from South Carolina politicians before Hegseth weighed in. US Representative Russell Fry called on SCNG to drop the review and reinstate the pilots immediately, writing that they “should be celebrated, not sanctioned.”
Hegseth used near-identical language in March 2026, when he overruled the US Army to reinstate the crews of two Apache helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division.
The aircraft had performed a low flyby and hover next to the Nashville home of singer Kid Rock, a prominent ally of US President Donald Trump. In that case, Hegseth ended the US Army’s investigation within hours of the suspension being announced, writing: “No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.”
As of July 10, 2026, neither the US Army nor the South Carolina National Guard had announced any change to the pilots’ status following Hegseth’s post.