As North Carolina struggles to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, a troubling incident has come to light involving the sabotage of recovery supplies in Burnsville, NC. Volunteers and residents attempting to rebuild their community are now grappling with the aftermath of an unmarked helicopter, manned by pilots wearing military-style headgear, disrupting a United Cajun Navy distribution site late Sunday evening. What should have been a routine relief operation turned into a scene of chaos, raising questions about who was behind this act and why.
The event was captured in videos that have circulated widely on social media. TikTok user @megsnbacn, a volunteer with K9 Security, shared her account of the bizarre and alarming incident. According to her, the unmarked helicopter arrived at around 7:18 p.m., hovering above the aid distribution area in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to destroy recovery supplies. The site had reportedly been designated as a “no-fly, no-drop” zone just hours before, signaling that no helicopters should have entered the airspace.
The volunteers on the ground were caught off guard. Many were temporarily away from the site, resupplying other helicopters at a designated landing zone, which had been cleared for recovery operations. The unauthorized helicopter, according to @megsnbacn, was not part of their operation and bore no identifying marks, which is illegal under aviation regulations. Its pilots, wearing masks and military-style headgear, acted in a manner that suggests a calculated effort to disrupt the distribution of essential supplies, further straining an already overburdened recovery operation.
In the hours leading up to the helicopter’s arrival, two unidentified black SUVs and a side-by-side vehicle were spotted near the site. According to @megsnbacn, these vehicles performed a “slow roll” through the parking lot, observing the area before quickly leaving. Like the helicopter, these vehicles were unmarked, and their occupants remained unidentified. Local law enforcement was called to the scene but were equally baffled, unable to identify the helicopter or the vehicles that had been spotted.
The volunteer explained that the behavior of the helicopter’s crew raised alarm. Having worked with Coast Guard helicopters during previous hurricane recovery efforts, @megsnbacn noted that the pilots’ actions seemed highly suspicious. She described their use of “rotor wash”—the powerful downward blast of air created by helicopter blades—which was directed at the distribution site in a way that appeared intended to damage the supplies. The pilots’ decision to wear masks also deviated from standard practice, further fueling suspicion that this was a deliberate sabotage rather than a simple misunderstanding or navigation error.
The question of who was behind this act remains unanswered. Speculation has swirled online, with some suggesting that private military contractors or special forces may have been involved. While it is not uncommon for private contractors to use unmarked helicopters, the legality of flying an unmarked aircraft in this context is unclear. Volunteers at the site and local law enforcement have so far been unable to trace the origins of the helicopter or identify the individuals responsible for the attack.
Adding to the mystery is the timing of the event. The unmarked helicopter arrived shortly after the SUVs had been seen scouting the area, suggesting that the two incidents may be connected. Yet, neither local authorities nor the Cajun Navy volunteers have been able to uncover more information about the vehicles or their occupants. This lack of clarity has only deepened concerns among those involved in the recovery effort.
The United Cajun Navy, known for their volunteer-driven relief efforts in the wake of natural disasters, has been instrumental in helping communities across the Gulf Coast and beyond. In Burnsville, their distribution site was set up to provide much-needed aid to those affected by Hurricane Helene. For many in the town, the supplies were a lifeline, offering food, water, and basic necessities as they worked to recover from the storm. The sabotage of these supplies, if proven deliberate, represents a severe blow to the relief efforts and has left volunteers both frustrated and shaken.
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, but answers remain elusive. No one has come forward to claim responsibility for the helicopter’s actions, and it is still unclear whether the unmarked vehicle was connected to any government or private organization. In the absence of official answers, speculation has grown, with some volunteers questioning whether the act was intended to undermine the recovery efforts in Burnsville or if it was part of a larger, coordinated attack.
For now, the residents of Burnsville and the Cajun Navy volunteers are left with more questions than answers. Why was an unmarked helicopter, piloted by individuals in military-style gear, targeting their relief site? Who were the occupants of the mysterious SUVs, and what was their purpose in scouting the area just before the helicopter’s arrival? These questions loom large as North Carolina continues its struggle to recover from Hurricane Helene.
As the investigation unfolds, many in the region are hoping for clarity and justice. In the meantime, the volunteers have pledged to continue their work, undeterred by the sabotage. With lives and communities at stake, they remain focused on helping those most in need, even in the face of such inexplicable and dangerous interference.
WATCH:
@megsnbacnThis eveninf st approximately 7:18 in Burnsvile NC an unmarked helicopter flew in and attempted to destroy the distrubution area that was set up by locals for locals while I was conducting a K9 Security Round. The majority of our security teams were off site re-supplying helos at the DESIGNSTED HL zone. THIS WAS NOT ONE OF OUR HELOS! This was about 45 minutes after 2 unmarked black SUVS and a side byside did a slow role at the entrance of our parking lot and left. Neither the SUVS nor the unmarked helo weee sny of ojr points of contacts. Local LE did not know about them after theh responded to the scene shortly after the helo left. It was UNMARKED and it is illegal to fly unmarked helocopters. But we know SF can and does and we know some privage contractors do (not sure the legalities on that though)…. So who were they? Why were they here? Why were they masked up? Ive done plenty of helo ops with Coast Guard helos and i know a practiced rotor wash when I see it and our pilots never masked up this way. #hurricanehelene #northcarolina #greenberet #conspirancytheory #truth #disaster #sar♬ Explosive Phonk – VEL94EV
Here is another video:
@jaylynnlivThis helicopter circled around at one of the donation sites and then came down low and then left immediately. The helicopter had no tail number and nothing on the helicopter. Thankfully no one was injured but authorities are looking into this. #hurricanehelene #northcarolina #breaking #breakingnews♬ original sound – Jaylynn
The United Cajun Navy’s X confirmed the authenticity of the videos on their X account, deeming the destruction a deliberate hostile act.
We’ve officially found our first free swamp tour customer! So whoever the douche nozzle was that deliberately rotor washed the Burnsville POD, this was a hostile act that broke a $hitload of really good @FAANews laws!
You can clearly see our logo on the supplies! Good luck trying to remain anonymous, we’ll be in touch soon!
https://twitter.com/Unitedcajunnavy/status/1843247908109320358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
To remove any doubt, the United Cajun Navy also shared the texts they received from volunteers as the harrowing incident unfolded.
Oh, and the video is real. We were getting texts in real time from terrified volunteers. pic.twitter.com/6FWFzmAxpj
— United Cajun Navy (@Unitedcajunnavy) October 7, 2024
Brian Trascher, the Vice President and Public Information Officer for the United Cajun Navy, told RedState.com in a phone interview that the unmarked helicopter was likely a UH60 standard Blackhawk, and the pilots were wearing military headgear. The organization came to the conclusion after analyzing the videos and speaking with eyewitnesses.
“Yeah, it takes two pilots to fly,” Trascher explained to RedState.com. “One of those things, and both were wearing standard DOD gear, the headgear.”
Trascher said the United Cajun Navy is continuing to investigate the incident and identify the culprit.