NTSB Investigates GPS Jamming Impact in Fatal New Mexico Medevac Plane Crash
ROSWELL, NM — The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating potential GPS jamming linked to a fatal May 2023 crash of a civilian medevac aircraft in New Mexico.
The crash occurred the night of May 25 when the plane, carrying two pilots and two nurses, went down while en route from Roswell to Ruidoso to pick up a patient. All four on board were killed, and the impact ignited a wildfire that persisted for a month.
According to authorities, shortly after takeoff from Roswell, one pilot reported a loss of GPS capability. Three other aircraft reported similar issues, prompting an air traffic controller to request that military personnel at White Sands Missile Range pause their GPS jamming operations. The military briefly halted jamming but resumed it after controllers indicated the aircraft was visually tracking its destination. The plane crashed five minutes later.
The NTSB’s preliminary report notes that it remains unclear whether controllers informed the pilots about the pause or subsequent resumption of jamming. This is the first instance where GPS jamming has been highlighted as a possible factor in an NTSB investigation, with prior reports linking disruptions to civilian aviation to activities at the White Sands base.
Ongoing GPS testing at White Sands, reported to affect a wide range, has raised concerns among air traffic controllers about safety and navigational accuracy.
The NTSB continues its investigation and has not yet provided a timeline for completion.