A Coast Guard jet carrying Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin lost its right engine in midair Wednesday and made an emergency landing near Washington, D.C.
Quick Take
- The Coast Guard-operated Gulfstream jet declared an in-flight emergency after its right engine failed.
- The plane landed safely at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport around 1:35 p.m.
- All 14 people aboard, including Mullin, were unharmed.
- Mullin praised the Coast Guard pilots for making the single-engine landing “feel routine.”
- Some reports describe the aircraft as 25 years old, raising questions about its maintenance history.
Engine Failure Forces Emergency Landing
The pilot of the aircraft radioed air traffic controllers with an urgent message: “We just lost our right engine and would like to declare an emergency and immediate landing at DCA.” The crew also reported having about two and a half hours of fuel left and 14 people on board as they worked with controllers to bring the plane down safely.
The jet, identified by multiple outlets as a Coast Guard-operated Gulfstream V, also known as a C-37A, diverted from its planned route and landed at Reagan National Airport outside Washington. News outlets, including Reuters and Politico, confirmed the aircraft touched down without injury to anyone aboard.
Mullin Credits Crew for Calm Landing
Mullin took to social media after the landing to thank the flight crew. He wrote that “the United States Coast Guard pilots made the single engine landing feel routine. No panic, just straight professionalism.” His account matches the outcome described by news outlets covering the incident.
Wednesday’s emergency happened in the early afternoon, with the plane safely on the ground by roughly 1:35 p.m. local time. The Washington Post confirmed the timing and location, placing the landing squarely in the middle of a business day at one of the busiest airports serving the nation’s capital.
Questions Linger Over Aircraft’s Age
News reports differ slightly on how to describe the mechanical problem. Some say the engine simply failed, while others report it caught fire before failing. That kind of gap is common in fast-moving breaking news, and it does not change the core outcome: the plane landed safely with no injuries.
Separately, some reporting says the aircraft was around 25 years old and had been flagged in 2025 for its age. No maintenance log, Coast Guard mishap report, or Federal Aviation Administration filing has been made public yet to explain what caused the failure or whether age played a role.
Aging Fleet Concerns Feed Broader Trust Issues
Federal rules require operators to notify the National Transportation Safety Board when an aircraft suffers certain serious in-flight failures, including uncontained engine failures. Whether that formal notification process has started for this flight isn’t yet public, leaving the full paper trail incomplete for now.
Government aircraft failures involving top officials tend to draw quick reassurance from agencies eager to show competence. That instinct is understandable, but it also means Americans frustrated with government accountability may want to see the maintenance records and mishap findings released, not just statements calling the landing routine.
A plane carrying DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin was diverted to a Washington, D.C., area airport after it declared an emergency. https://t.co/2tDG2HktJE
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) September 3, 2026
For now, the facts are clear and confirmed by multiple outlets: an engine failed, the crew handled it well, and everyone walked away unharmed. What remains unaddressed publicly is whether the aircraft’s age or maintenance history contributed to the failure, a question that matters given how many officials and Coast Guard personnel fly on this same fleet.
Sources:
youtube.com, politico.com, washingtonpost.com, reuters.com, x.com
