Jackson, Mississippi – Two National Guardsmen from Mississippi tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on Friday. Governor Tate Reeves confirmed the identities of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bryan Andrew Zemek, 36, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Joshua Abbott, 42, in a social media statement.
Zemek served as an AH-64 Delta Apache standardization instructor pilot in Alpha Company 1st Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, while Abbott was a maintenance test pilot in Delta Company of the 2nd Battalion, 151st Lakota Medical Evacuation unit.
The fatal accident occurred during a routine training flight in an AH-64 Apache helicopter, crashing in a wooded area near Booneville, Mississippi. The incident took place around 2 p.m. local time on Friday, according to Governor Reeves.
Governor Reeves expressed his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the fallen soldiers, honoring their service and sacrifice. He emphasized the bravery and courage of all men and women in the armed forces, highlighting their role in protecting the freedoms of the nation.
Safety crews, along with local authorities, were present at the crash site, working together to investigate the incident. The Mississippi National Guard promised a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Booneville, situated in the northeast corner of Mississippi near the borders of Alabama and Tennessee, was the location of the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of these two dedicated National Guardsmen.