Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lifted the suspension of eight South Carolina Army National Guard pilots Friday after they were grounded for flying Apache helicopters over packed holiday beaches during a July 4 “Salute from the Shore” celebration.
“We’ll fix this,” Hegseth posted on X Thursday night. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the reinstatement the following morning. “Effective immediately, the suspension of all involved South Carolina pilots has been lifted,” Parnell wrote.
The eight pilots, assigned to the 1-151st Attack Battalion at McEntire Joint National Guard Base near Columbia, were suspended from flight duties earlier in the week after videos of their low passes over crowded beaches in Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Hilton Head spread across social media. The clips showed the AH-64 Apaches skimming close over beachgoers and swimmers during the annual statewide airshow.
State Guard officials initially downplayed the suspension as routine. “This standard procedure ensures a fair and objective process for everyone involved,” a Guard statement said. Officials described the grounding as “non-punitive” and said it was temporary while a review of the flight profile was completed.
That framing did not hold long. Before Hegseth stepped in, Republican Rep. Russell Fry of South Carolina called on the Guard to drop the suspension immediately.
“Millions of Americans applauded the incredible display during the Salute from the Shore flyover while expressing complete admiration for them and appreciation for our country and military,” Fry wrote on social media. “These pilots should be celebrated, not sanctioned.”
Hegseth’s move is consistent with how he handled a similar episode in March, when Army crews from the 101st Airborne Division flew a low pass over musician Kid Rock’s home in Nashville. Their unit grounded them for a safety review. Hegseth shut the investigation down with a single tweet: “No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, Patriots.”
The South Carolina incident follows that playbook. Hegseth posted his “Carry on, Patriots” message Thursday night. By Friday morning the pilots were back on flight status.
The reinstatement drew a sharp reaction from military observers who noted that internal safety reviews exist for reasons independent of public popularity. Videos of the July 4 flyover showed the helicopters operating at altitudes and distances that would not be permissible under Air Force rules governing public event flights. The Guard had maintained the review was a standard safety measure before federal pressure ended it.
Hegseth did not address the substance of the flight safety review.
The 1-151st Attack Battalion’s Apache participation marked the first time the helicopter unit had flown in the Salute from the Shore event. The event runs the length of the South Carolina coast and is typically a draw for large holiday crowds.
