Eight South Carolina National Guard helicopter pilots have been reinstated to flying duties after being suspended for a low-level flyover over beachgoers during a Fourth of July aviation show. The Pentagon announced the decision on Friday, lifting the suspension that had been in place since the annual "Salute from the Shore" event.
Suspension Lifted
"Effective immediately, the suspension of all involved South Carolina pilots has been lifted," wrote Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on social media. "Carry on Patriots." The suspension was initially described as a routine, non-punitive safety measure rather than disciplinary action.
Event Details
The "Salute from the Shore" is a Fourth of July tradition honoring service members in South Carolina since 2010. It features vintage and modern military aircraft flying along the state's 187-mile shoreline. This year's event included F-16s from the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing, a C-17 from the 437th Airlift Wing, and for the first time, Apache helicopters. Civilian-owned vintage planes such as T-34s and T-6s also participated.
Public and Political Reaction
Videos and images posted on social media showed the Apaches flying at low altitudes over crowded beaches, sparking concern. The South Carolina National Guard launched a review and temporarily suspended the eight pilots. The Pentagon later intervened, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating on social media, "We'll fix this. Carry on, Patriots."
South Carolina Republicans criticized the suspension. U.S. Representative Russell Fry, representing the Myrtle Beach area, said the pilots "should be celebrated, not sanctioned." Governor Henry McMaster, who serves as commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard, expressed confidence in the pilots, writing that guardsmen "fly in wartime" and "surely know how to safely navigate the coast of South Carolina."
Aftermath
Officials from McMaster's office and the South Carolina National Guard did not immediately comment on whether the governor directly intervened. The Pentagon declined further comment beyond Parnell's statement. The pilots' return to duty marks the end of a brief controversy over the low-level flyover.
