Coast Guard jet carrying DHS chief makes emergency landing after engine loss
A Coast Guard C-37A transporting Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and other officials lost an engine and landed safely near Washington, D.C.
During an afternoon flight, a Coast Guard C-37A carrying Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and senior DHS officials experienced a right-engine failure and requested an emergency landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The pilot informed controllers that the jet, a military version of a Gulfstream V, had fourteen passengers and roughly two and a half hours of fuel remaining. The aircraft touched down without incident, and Mullin posted on X that the pilots' professionalism made the situation feel routine.
The Coast Guard, which operates the plane for senior officials, has previously highlighted the aircraft's age and outdated avionics. In fiscal year 2025, the department asked for about $50 million to replace the jet, a request later expanded to two Gulfstream G700s costing roughly $200 million, prompting further congressional scrutiny. Lawmakers such as Rep. Lauren Underwood, Rep. Bennie Thompson and Rep. LaMonica McIver have questioned the priority of the purchase relative to other Coast Guard needs.
Why it matters
The safe landing underscores the risks of operating aging government aircraft and fuels debate over costly replacement plans.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report the emergency landing and Mullin’s praise of the pilots, but left-leaning coverage highlights the aircraft’s age, outdated avionics, and a pending $50 million replacement request, whereas right-leaning coverage stresses that the plane is part of an aging fleet flagged by DHS and notes the incident is still developing.
LEFT
Focuses on the jet’s aging equipment and the department’s request for funds to replace it
RIGHT
Frames the event as a routine emergency landing involving an older fleet that DHS has already flagged
The left emphasises
- the aircraft’s age and outdated avionics
- a request for about $50 million to replace the jet, later expanded to two Gulfstream G700s
- pilots’ professionalism made the situation feel routine
The right emphasises
- engine failure/malfunction forcing an emergency landing
- the plane is among the aging Coast Guard fleet flagged by DHS
- pilots’ professionalism praised; the incident is still developing
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