Hegseth Lifts Army Personnel Suspension Over Kid Rock Helicopter Incident

The U.S. Army has suspended the air crew involved in a viral helicopter incident near Kid Rock’s Tennessee home and launched a formal investigation into the matter, Military.com has learned.

Army spokesperson Maj. Montrell Russell said the March 28 flight is now under an Army Regulation 15-6 administrative investigation—a process used to examine potential violations and determine accountability.

Russell told Military.com that two AH-64 Apache helicopters from the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Campbell were operating in the Nashville area when the incident occurred.

He added that the Army “takes any allegations of unauthorized or unsafe flight operations very seriously” and is committed to enforcing standards and holding personnel accountable.

Officials declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

The Army identified the aircraft as AH-64 Apache helicopters operating in the Nashville area, according to reporting from NBC News after reviewing the initial video. The air crew was suspended shortly after the incident became public, and the review is ongoing.

An Army spokesperson told NBC News at the time that “appropriate actions will be taken if any violations are found.” Officials have not said what prompted the suspension or if any protocols were broken.

The Army said a review is underway to assess the mission and check regulatory compliance. Aviators must comply with strict safety and flight regulations.

Army officials told NBC News the helicopters followed a planned training route near Kid Rock’s property. A 101st Airborne spokesperson described it as “entirely coincidental.”

Officials also said the flight was not connected to the “No Kings” protests in Nashville over the weekend that were connected to American citizens’ sentiments towards the president and his administration.

The backlash began after Kid Rock shared the video on social media platforms X and Instagram, showing him standing poolside near a replica of the Statue of Liberty, saluting as helicopters hovered overhead.

He captioned the post: “This is a level of respect that s*** for brains Governor of California will never know. God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her,” referencing his ongoing feud with Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The clip quickly spread across social media, generating millions of views and sparking questions about cost, authorization and whether the flight was part of a routine operation.

Kid Rock addressed the incident in an interview with local Nashville ABC affiliate WKRN, describing the neencounter as unplanned and not unusual.

I was sitting here having a Saturday afternoon beer, and I saw a chopper coming. It’s not the first time they’ve flown over my house.

Kid Rock said he has previously interacted with pilots from Fort Campbell and has told them they are welcome to fly by. According to his account, the helicopters were already operating in the area when he stepped outside and acknowledged them.

“They just happened to be coming this way,” the musician said. “I walked over and was like, ‘Yeah, hell yeah.’ Then they circled back around, and I gave them a salute—kind of a thank you.”

He added that the moment felt meaningful to him, calling it “a level of respect” that stood apart from his career achievements. It was viewed by him as an exchange of a positive gesture toward service members.

This is not the first time that military aircraft have faced public scrutiny. However, past incidents primarily focused on flight conduct rather than location.

Recent investigations have been prompted by low-altitude maneuvers, unauthorized deviations from flight paths, or safety concerns. Air crews are often grounded during these reviews to ensure compliance with protocols.

What’s less common is a situation involving a high-profile figure.

Military flyovers tied to celebrities or public figures are usually planned in advance, such as appearances at major sporting events or official ceremonies where routes and altitudes are tightly controlled. Those operations are coordinated through formal channels and rarely result in disciplinary action unless something goes wrong during execution.

Military aircraft routinely train across the U.S., sometimes flying low over civilian areas. These exercises are funded through Department of Defense budgets and are not conducted for individual requests.

While the Army describes the flight as routine training, its proximity to a celebrity’s home—and the viral video—has drawn scrutiny more commonly associated with safety violations than standard operations.