Eight South Carolina National Guard helicopter pilots who were grounded after a low-flying sweep over crowded beaches during a July 4 celebration have been reinstated to active duty.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced the decision on social media, stating, "Effective immediately, the suspension of all involved South Carolina pilots has been lifted. Carry on Patriots."
The pilots had been suspended following concerns raised by online images of Apache helicopters flying at what appeared to be a low altitude over beachgoers during the annual "Salute from the Shore" event.
The "Salute from the Shore" is a decade-long tradition honoring servicemembers, featuring military aircraft flying along the state's 187-mile coastline to foster patriotism. This year marked the first inclusion of Apache helicopters alongside F-16s and C-17s.
The South Carolina National Guard initiated a review after the social media posts, clarifying the suspension as "a routine, non-punitive safety measure, not a disciplinary action."
The grounding drew swift criticism from state and federal officials.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated Pentagon involvement, writing on social media, "We’ll fix this. Carry on, Patriots."
Republican Rep. Russell Fry, whose district includes Myrtle Beach, asserted that the pilots "should be celebrated, not sanctioned."
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, who commands the state's National Guard, also voiced his support shortly before the reinstatement.
He expressed confidence in the pilots' expertise, noting that Guardsmen "fly in wartime" and adding, "Surely, they know how to safely navigate the coast of South Carolina — and her scores of cheering residents and tourists on our 250th anniversary."
Officials from Governor McMaster's office and the South Carolina National Guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the decision or whether the governor had directly intervened. The Pentagon declined to elaborate beyond Parnell's statement.
