A U.S. military electronic warfare exercise involving GPS-jamming technology is being investigated for its potential role in a medevac plane crash that killed four people in New Mexico in early May. The twin-engine Beechcraft King Air was en route from Roswell to Ruidoso to pick up a patient when its pilots reported losing access to navigation systems.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the incident occurred during a GPS-jamming test conducted by the Air Force's 746th Test Squadron at White Sands Missile Range. The FAA had issued warnings to pilots between May 12 and May 18 that these exercises could disrupt GPS signals up to 400 miles away.
The flight, which departed Roswell shortly before midnight on May 13, was operating under clear but nearly moonless skies. Eight minutes after takeoff, the pilots informed air traffic control of their GPS issues and requested directional assistance. As controllers worked to help multiple aircraft experiencing similar problems, the King Air pilots attempted to switch from a GPS-dependent approach to older, ground-based navigation methods.
By approximately 12:08 a.m., the aircraft had deviated from its intended approach path. The pilots received permission to navigate visually toward Ruidoso's airport lights, which were about 31 miles away. However, they were reportedly unaware that the 10,000-foot Capitan Mountains lay directly in their path.
The plane ultimately crashed into the mountainside at full speed, resulting in the deaths of Captain Keelan Clark, 30, First Officer Ali Kawsara, 23, and nurses Sarah Clark and Jamie Novick. This incident is the first known fatal civilian crash in the U.S. linked to military electronic warfare.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash. While the preliminary report details the GPS issues encountered by the pilots, the final determination of the cause is not expected until next year. Experts have noted that while GPS loss can be challenging, pilots are trained to use alternative navigation methods. However, in mountainous terrain, the precision offered by GPS is particularly critical for maintaining safe margins during approaches.
The crash has brought renewed attention to the potential risks of military electronic warfare technologies interfering with civilian aviation, especially as such technologies are increasingly deployed.