NY National Guard helicopter crew headed to Mexican border

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS | September 15, 2015 @ 3:13 am

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A New York Army National Guard helicopter crew will be heading to the U.S.-Mexico border to conduct aerial reconnaissance missions.

Officials at National Guard headquarters in suburban Albany say four crew members will fly a UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter to the Mexican border in Arizona. They’re scheduled to depart from Latham at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The aircraft and crew will head to Marana, Arizona, to support U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agencies. The four-man crew from New York will be accompanied by a Customs and Border Patrol agent on all missions.

Their mission involves keeping watch for drug smuggling and human trafficking.

New York National Guard aviators have supported Arizona and Texas aerial reconnaissance missions since 2012.

http://ktar.com/story/634639/ny-nati...exican-border/