Suspensions of Apache Pilots Lifted After Public Outcry

The South Carolina National Guard announced on Friday that the suspensions of eight Apache pilots have been lifted. The pilots were suspended after flying low over the South Carolina coast during the annual "Salute from the Shore" event on July Fourth. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth publicly called for the reversal of the suspensions, which had drawn national scrutiny. The Guard clarified that the suspensions were a routine administrative measure related to a flight profile review and not a disciplinary action. Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Russell Fry and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, criticized the suspensions, calling for their reversal. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the lifting of the suspensions, and Maj. Lisa Allen of the South Carolina National Guard stated that the review was complete. This incident follows a similar situation in March, where Hegseth intervened on behalf of Apache pilots suspended for low-flying near a celebrity's residence.