A Coast Guard jet carrying Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin lost an engine in flight and still landed safely at Reagan National, thanks to skilled pilots and solid training.
Story Highlights
- Pilot declared an emergency after the right engine failed, then diverted to Washington Reagan National.
- Fourteen people were on board; no injuries reported after the safe landing.
- Fire and rescue checked the aircraft before it taxied off the runway.
- Mullin praised the pilots’ calm, professional single‑engine landing.
Emergency Declared And Swift Diversion To Reagan National
Air traffic control audio captured the crew reporting a right engine failure and requesting an immediate landing in Washington at about 1:35 p.m. Eastern time. The pilot stated there were 14 people on board and about two and a half hours of fuel remaining, which allowed a controlled approach. Controllers cleared the aircraft to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The crew executed standard single‑engine procedures and kept the jet stable throughout descent and landing.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said the aircraft landed safely and then cleared the runway after fire and rescue crews completed checks. No injuries were reported by airport officials or in media accounts at the scene. Open‑source flight tracking matched the diversion and landing timeline reported by air traffic control and news outlets, confirming the quick, direct route to Reagan National for the emergency approach.
Who Was Aboard And What Aircraft Was Involved
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was traveling on a United States Coast Guard‑operated Gulfstream C‑37A jet when the right engine failed en route to the Washington, D.C., area from Georgia. Reports identified the aircraft as part of the Coast Guard’s small executive transport fleet used for senior official travel. The passenger count came from the cockpit report during the emergency call, while specific identities beyond Mullin were not released in the initial statements.
Mullin publicly confirmed the incident after landing and credited the crew for a smooth single‑engine arrival. He said the pilots showed steady professionalism and made the landing feel routine, even noting it was a first for them in actual operations. His statement supported what air traffic control audio and airport authorities already established: the crew recognized the failure, followed training, and brought everyone home safely. That is how modern aviation is supposed to work.
Safety, Preparedness, And What Comes Next
Transport jets are designed to fly and land safely on one engine, and crews train for that exact moment. This flight followed that playbook. The pilot managed power, speed, and direction, while controllers cleared a priority path to the runway. Fire and rescue teams met the jet, checked it, and cleared it to taxi. That sequence shows planning, discipline, and focus across the system, from cockpit to tower to first responders.
Coast Guard plane carrying DHS Secretary Mullin makes emergency landing https://t.co/fihi41ZdOZ
— ABC11 EyewitnessNews (@ABC11_WTVD) September 4, 2026
Reporters said the precise cause of the engine failure was not yet known. Investigators will look at maintenance records, sensor data, and the engine itself to determine what failed and why. For now, the facts are clear and steady. An engine quit. The crew declared an emergency. The jet landed safely. No one was hurt. The system worked. Americans expect that level of competence, especially when senior officials travel, and on this day, the Coast Guard crew delivered.
Sources:
feedpress.me, kcra.com, unn.ua
