"Texans Serving Texas"

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:

UPDATE: Texas Army National Guard Helicopter crashes near Houston​

AUSTIN, Texas (Dec. 29, 2016) – Two Texas Army National Guard Soldiers died Wednesday after their aircraft crashed into the water, off the Bayport Cruise Terminal in La Porte, Texas.

A Centralized Accident Investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, headquartered in Fort Rucker, Alabama is deployed to Galveston, Texas to take the lead on investigating the helicopter crash.

Texas Guardsmen remain on scene in support of the Department of Public Safety to assist in recovering the aircraft and securing the site.

Names of the deceased will be released, following appropriate next of kin notification and in line with military protocol.

The incident is under investigation and further information will be released as it becomes available, through the Texas Military Department State Public Affairs Office.

Our main focus remains with supporting their family members and investigation efforts.

For the most up to date information, visit tmd.texas.gov/breaking-news.

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The mission of the Texas Military Department (TMD) is to provide the Governor and the President with ready and trained forces in support of the citizens of Texas and State and Federal civil/military authorities at home and abroad.

The Texas Military Department is commanded by the Adjutant General of Texas, the state's senior military official appointed by the governor, and is comprised of the Texas Military Department (formerly the Adjutant General's Department), the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG), the Texas State Guard (TXSG) and the Domestic Operations Command (DOMOPS).

For more information about the Texas Military Department visit our Website at https://tmd.texas.gov.