U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations (AMO) responded to an in-flight emergency on October 4, 2024, assisting a passenger in safely landing a plane at Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, California. The incident occurred when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contacted AMO’s Riverside Air Unit for help after the pilot of a small aircraft became incapacitated with only one passenger onboard.
An airborne Multi-Role Enforcement Aircraft (MEA) aircrew from AMO was dispatched to provide assistance. They coordinated with the Air and Marine Operations Center to offer flight path guidance. The MEA aircrew established both radio and visual contact with the passenger, who was familiar with the aircraft but did not possess a pilot’s license. With instructions from Air Traffic Control (ATC), they guided the passenger to execute a safe landing without any injuries.
Brandon J. Tucker, Director of Air and Marine Operations at San Diego Air and Marine Branch, commented on the successful outcome: “The passenger was able to land the plane without injury,” he said. “This is a true testament to the expertise of our aviation crews, the quick coordination by our FAA partners, and the collaboration by all involved to ensure a safe ending.”
AMO plays a critical role in national security through its aviation and maritime law enforcement capabilities. It operates approximately 240 aircraft and 300 marine vessels across various U.S. territories including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.
In fiscal year 2023 alone, AMO's enforcement actions led to over 1,000 arrests and nearly 90,000 apprehensions of undocumented individuals. They also seized or disrupted significant quantities of illegal substances including cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine as well as weapons.
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