NTSB Says New Mexico Air Ambulance Lost GPS Before Fatal Crash During Scheduled Military Jamming Exercise Near Roswell, Killing Four Crew Members
Investigators say the aircraft reported losing satellite navigation minutes after takeoff, then struck terrain near the runway.
ROSWELL, NM — Federal investigators say a New Mexico air ambulance crash unfolded after the crew lost GPS navigation soon after takeoff while the U.S. military was carrying out a planned jamming exercise. The National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report that the Beech King Air crew reported the outage minutes after leaving Roswell on May 14.
The flight was heading to Ruidoso shortly before midnight when the pilots asked air traffic control for help. Four people were killed in the crash: both pilots and two flight nurses. Investigators have not determined whether the GPS interference caused the accident or played a role in it.
What Investigators Found
The NTSB said the FAA had warned in advance that a scheduled military GPS-denial exercise near White Sands Missile Range could affect satellite navigation across a wide area. After the crew reported the loss of GPS, controllers twice asked officials to stop the jamming while they tried to assist the flight.
According to the report, three other aircraft in the area also reported GPS outages. The crew later said they could see the airport and asked for a visual approach. After the military resumed the exercise, the aircraft descended toward the runway and then struck the Capitan Mountains.
Why The Case Matters
The crash has drawn attention because aviation officials have been warning that GPS interference is becoming a more serious operational hazard. The FAA advises pilots to be ready to fly without satellite navigation, saying intentional jamming is a growing concern. International aviation agencies have also warned that interference can spread far beyond the immediate area of a test or conflict.
Experts cited in the report said military jamming is different from illegal consumer devices because it is meant to block navigation over large training areas. They also said older aircraft receivers may be more vulnerable than newer systems, which has raised questions about whether civil aviation technology has kept pace with the threat.
What Happens Next
The NTSB has not said whether it will blame the GPS outage for the crash, and its preliminary findings do not assign fault. The agency will continue its investigation before issuing a final report. The FAA said it routinely issues notices about planned GPS disruptions and keeps backup navigation systems available for aircraft.
For now, investigators are still trying to determine how the crew’s loss of satellite guidance, the military exercise and the terrain collision fit together. The report says the flight became a navigation emergency within minutes of departure, but the cause of the crash remains under review.
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