A Medevac Plane Crashed Into the Side of a Mountain—Minutes After the U.S. Military Flipped a Switch

Pilots have asked for the jamming to stop before and been told no. This time, four people died. The incident highlights the growing concern over the U.S. military's use of GPS jamming technology, which can have serious consequences for civilian aircraft. For decades, the U.S. military has been testing and using GPS jamming technology, which can disrupt or block GPS signals used by aircraft for navigation. This technology has been used in various military operations, including in the U.S. Navy's electromagnetic warfare exercises, where it has been used to disrupt enemy GPS systems. However, this technology can also affect civilian aircraft, leading to accidents and near-misses. In the case of the Medevac plane, the crew encountered a critical situation when their navigation systems went dark shortly after takeoff due to the jamming exercises conducted by the U.S. military.

The incident occurred on May 14, 2026, when a Beechcraft King Air C90 medevac ambulance took off from Roswell Air Center in New Mexico. The plane was heading to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport near Ruidoso, where a patient was waiting for transport to a hospital in Albuquerque. The crew had been briefed that White Sands Missile Range was conducting experiments that involved GPS interference, but they were likely caught off guard by the sheer scale of the disruption. The plane's navigation systems, including its GPS and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) systems, went dark shortly after takeoff, making it difficult for the crew to navigate. The pilots requested heading vectors from air traffic control to manually navigate toward their destination, but the jamming exercise continued.

The incident is not an isolated one. In the past, civilian aircraft have encountered GPS disruptions during military operations, leading to accidents and near-misses. In 2021, an air traffic controller asked their manager to put through a request for jamming to stop to help an aircraft, but the request was denied. According to reports, FAA managers have told controllers that every time they order a 'stop buzzer' to halt a GPS test, it costs the military between $5 million and $10 million. This has led to a reluctance to halt the jamming exercise, despite the risks to civilian planes.

The incident has sparked concerns over the U.S. military's use of GPS jamming technology and its impact on civilian aircraft. The U.S. military has been using this technology for decades, but the consequences of its use are becoming more apparent. The incident highlights the need for increased transparency and cooperation between the U.S. military and civilian aviation authorities to ensure that civilian aircraft are not put at risk during military operations. The use of GPS jamming technology must be subject to strict safety guidelines and regulations to prevent accidents and near-misses.

The incident has also raised questions over the safety of civilian aircraft during military operations. The U.S. military has been using GPS jamming technology to disrupt enemy GPS systems, but this technology can also affect civilian aircraft, leading to accidents and near-misses. The incident highlights the need for increased safety measures and regulations to prevent accidents and near-misses during military operations. The U.S. military must take a more proactive approach to minimizing the risks to civilian aircraft during its operations.

The incident has also sparked concerns over the impact of GPS jamming on civilian life. The technology has been used in various military operations, including in the U.S. Navy's electromagnetic warfare exercises, where it has been used to disrupt enemy GPS systems. However, this technology can also affect civilian aircraft, leading to accidents and near-misses. The incident highlights the need for increased transparency and cooperation between the U.S. military and civilian aviation authorities to ensure that civilian aircraft are not put at risk during military operations.

The incident has also raised questions over the role of the FAA in regulating GPS jamming technology. The FAA has warned pilots of the potential risks associated with GPS interference, but the agency has faced criticism for not doing enough to mitigate the impact of GPS jamming technology on civilian aircraft. The incident highlights the need for the FAA to take a more proactive approach to regulating GPS jamming technology and ensuring the safety of civilian aircraft during military operations.

The incident has also sparked concerns over the use of GPS jamming technology in the U.S. The technology has been used in various military operations, including in the U.S. Navy's electromagnetic warfare exercises, where it has been used to disrupt enemy GPS systems. However, this technology can also affect civilian aircraft, leading to accidents and near-misses. The incident highlights the need for increased transparency and cooperation between the U.S. military and civilian aviation authorities to ensure that civilian aircraft are not put at risk during military operations.