In February, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily suspended air travel in US-Mexico airspace, leading to confusion among travelers and sparking a flurry of conspiracy theories online.
Speculations ranged from potential terrorist threats and foreign interference to clandestine military operations. However, it was revealed that the Pentagon had authorized US Customs and Border Protection to test an experimental anti-drone laser, which prompted the FAA to enforce a 10-day closure of the airspace.
A source familiar with the situation informed the Associated Press that the deployment of the laser occurred without prior coordination with the FAA, leading the agency to act decisively to safeguard air traffic. Reports indicated that the technology was utilized despite a scheduled meeting later that month aimed at addressing such matters between the Pentagon and the FAA.
Ultimately, the airspace was reopened after a few hours, and, thankfully, no injuries were reported, though the incident strained the relationship between the Pentagon and the FAA.
In a separate incident in May, a small medical aircraft tragically crashed into a mountain range in New Mexico, resulting in the deaths of all four individuals on board. Federal investigators have confirmed that the plane’s GPS system failed due to military jamming operations being conducted in the vicinity at that time.
While correlation does not imply causation, there has been significant public outrage regarding the preventable nature of the fatalities from the medical flight. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published a preliminary report detailing the GPS issues experienced by the pilots.
The aircraft, operated by Trans Aero MedEvac, was en route from Roswell Air Center to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport when it began to encounter difficulties. The NTSB noted that after losing GPS functionality, air traffic controllers provided headings to guide the pilots for a safe landing approach utilizing the airport’s instrument landing system.
At one point, controllers reached out to the military to request a shutdown of the jamming. However, shortly before the crash, the pilots indicated they could see the airport and intended to land visually, prompting controllers to allow the military to resume jamming operations.
As the aircraft descended to 9,400 feet approaching the airport, it ascended slightly before tragically colliding with a mountainside at 9,950 feet. The deceased were identified as pilots Keelan Clark and Ali Kawsara, along with flight nurses Jamie Novick and Sarah Clark.
The FAA had issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) warning pilots of the jamming operation, a standard practice. Additionally, three other aircraft in the area reported similar GPS issues around the same time.
The US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), which has reviewed the preliminary findings, expressed concerns that it remains unclear whether the flight crew was aware of the ongoing GPS jamming prior to takeoff. The AOPA emphasized that GPS interference caused by military operations has been a longstanding issue, particularly due to inconsistent dissemination of related NOTAMs.
The organization has urged the FAA to enhance the visibility of these notices for pilots and to improve the accuracy of mapping for affected areas. They noted that while this incident marks the first fatal accident linked to GPS interference, reports of such interference have significantly increased in recent years.
Retired airline pilot John Cox, now CEO of Safety Operating Systems, commented that pilots should have been capable of landing safely using ground-based navigation or visual cues, although GPS is favored for its precision. He remarked, “The loss of GPS should not result in the loss of an airplane; there must be more factors at play.” He questioned why, if the pilots could see the runway, they would fly into a mountain.
Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo concurred, stating that medevac pilots should have been prepared to use alternative navigation methods. However, he noted that pilots often rely on GPS due to its ability to guide them safely in challenging environments where precision is crucial. He remarked, “GPS can bring you in precisely with a margin of safety that’s required and facilitate landing.” Without GPS, he cautioned, pilots might struggle to maintain safe approaches using conventional navigation techniques.
Investigators have indicated that the final report identifying the crash’s cause will not be completed until next year.
