2 members of NY National Guard, Border Patrol agent killed in helicopter crash

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- Two soldiers from the New York Army National Guard were killed in a military helicopter crash in South Texas on Friday, March 8, the National Guard Bureau said in an update on Sunday.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski, 28, of Rensselaer, N.Y., and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia, 30, of Schenectady, N.Y., died when their UH-72 Lakota helicopter crashed near Rio Grande City, at approximately 2:50 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Friday.

They were conducting what were described as "aviation operations" while supporting the federal Southwest border mission.

Frankoski and Grassia were assigned to Detachment 2, Company A, 1st of the 224th Aviation Regiment, New York Army National Guard.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent also died in the crash and another New York Army National Guard Soldier was seriously injured.

The Border Patrol Agent who was killed has been identified as Chris Luna, according to our partners NewsNation.

Luna has been with Border Patrol since 2007, serving as a supplemental air crew member.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.