The U.S. Army has temporarily grounded the crews of two AH-64 Apache helicopters that hovered near musician Kid Rock’s Nashville-area home during a training flight on March 28. According to Army officials, the pilots have been suspended from flying duties while the service investigates the incident.
Army spokesperson Maj. Montrell Russell said Tuesday that suspending flight status is a discretionary measure commonly used while reviews are underway. The Army confirmed that the two helicopters involved belong to the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade based at Fort Campbell.
The aircraft drew public attention after Kid Rock posted videos online showing the helicopters hovering near the hillside property beside his swimming pool. In the footage, the singer can be seen clapping, saluting the crews, and raising his fist while the Nashville skyline appears in the background.
In a caption accompanying the videos, Kid Rock praised the show of respect and referenced President Trump, writing that the governor of California “will never know” that kind of respect. The performer and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have publicly criticized each other in the past. Newsom’s office responded to the videos with a brief statement accusing the situation of being an example of “waste, fraud, abuse.”
Army officials said there was no request from Kid Rock asking the military to fly the helicopters to his residence. Maj. Jonathon Bless, a public affairs officer for the 101st Airborne Division, said the aircraft were conducting a routine training mission in the Nashville area. The division operates out of Fort Campbell on the Tennessee–Kentucky border, and its helicopters frequently conduct training flights over the city.
During the same flight, the helicopters also passed over a “No Kings” protest in Nashville that was critical of the Trump administration. Bless said the training mission was unrelated to the demonstration.
The Army stated that aviators are required to follow strict safety procedures, professional standards, and established flight regulations. Officials are now reviewing the mission to determine whether the crews complied with Federal Aviation Administration rules, aviation safety guidelines, and required approvals. The service said appropriate action will be taken if the investigation finds that any regulations were violated.