Military GPS Jamming Cited in New Mexico Medical Plane Crash That Killed Four

A small medical plane that crashed into a mountainside in New Mexico on May 14, killing four people, lost its GPS system due to military jamming operations in the area, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday. The pre-dawn crash occurred as the Trans Aero MedEvac aircraft attempted to land near Ruidoso in the Capitan Mountains, and the subsequent wildfire burned approximately 48.4 square miles before being fully contained by June 12.

Although pilots had been warned in advance through a Notice to Airmen that military GPS jamming would be active in the region, the loss of navigation capability created a critical situation. When the pilots initially experienced GPS problems, air traffic control provided heading guidance and the military briefly suspended jamming operations. However, shortly before impact, the pilots reported they had the airport in sight and intended to land visually, prompting controllers to authorize the military to resume jamming. The aircraft descended to 9,400 feet as it approached the airport before climbing several hundred feet, ultimately striking a mountainside at 9,950 feet, approximately 230 feet below the Capitan Mountains Summit Radio Facility.

Experts and safety officials have noted that pilots should theoretically be able to land safely using ground-based navigation systems or visual approaches, yet questioned why experienced pilots would fly into terrain they reported seeing. Retired airline pilot John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems, stated that "the loss of GPS should not result in the loss of an airplane, so there's got to be more to it than that." Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo explained that while pilots often rely on GPS for its precision—particularly in mountainous terrain with narrow margins for error—the decision to attempt a visual approach placed responsibility on the flight crew to avoid obstacles.

The four victims were identified as pilots Keelan Clark and Ali Kawsara, employed by Generation Jets, and flight nurses Jamie Novick and Sarah Clark, employed by Trans Aero MedEvac. The aircraft was en route from Roswell Air Center to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport. Three other aircraft in the area also reported GPS problems at approximately the same time. The NTSB has not yet identified the probable cause of the crash and is expected to release its final report sometime in 2027. Trans Aero MedEvac has operated in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas since 1966.