Berliner Tageblatt - US Army helicopter pilots cleared after Kid Rock flyby

"Thank you Kid Rock. US Army pilots suspension LIFTED. No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots," Hegseth wrote on X.

The pilots were suspended earlier Tuesday after the musician -- an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump -- posted a video on X over the weekend showing an Apache attack helicopter hovering near his mountaintop home's swimming pool as he clapped and saluted.

"God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her," he wrote in text accompanying the video, while a second clip showed there were two of the aircraft in the area.

On Tuesday afternoon, Trump said he had not seen the video, but that he was "sure they had a good time."

He said that they "probably shouldn't have been doing it," but "they like Kid Rock, I like Kid Rock. Maybe they were trying to defend him."

Army spokesman Major Montrell Russell said earlier in the day that the military "has confirmed that on March 28, two Apache helicopters from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell conducted a flight in the Nashville area that has attracted public and media attention."

"The personnel involved have been suspended from flight duties while the Army reviews the circumstances surrounding the mission," including compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations as well as "aviation safety protocol and approval requirements," Russell said in a statement.

Kid Rock performed at the 2024 Republican National Convention as well as the "All-American Halftime Show" that was billed as an alternative to the Super Bowl halftime performance by Puerto Rican headliner Bad Bunny.

L.Dubois--BTB