A U.S. Coast Guard plane carrying Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin made an emergency landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) on Wednesday after losing its right engine, with all 14 passengers emerging unharmed.
A Coast Guard plane carrying Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and more than a dozen other people made an emergency landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) on Wednesday after reporting a right-engine failure, according to air traffic control recordings and official statements. The plane, which had about 2.5 hours of fuel, diverted to DCA around 1:35 p.m. ET, with the pilot informing air traffic controllers, We just lost our right engine and would like to declare an emergency and an immediate landing at DCA.
The plane, identified as a C-37A, landed safely at DCA, where Fire and Rescue personnel inspected the aircraft before it exited the runway. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority confirmed there was no disruption to other flights.
The incident occurred during a flight from Georgia to Washington, D.C., with the Coast Guard plane flagged in 2025 for being too old to be used, according to FOX News. The aircraft, which has been in service since 2002, is based at Air Station Washington. No immediate details about the cause of the engine failure were released by the Coast Guard or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Plane carrying DHS Secretary Mullin makes emergency landing after
Mullin, who was on board, later posted on social media describing the landing as “routine” and praising the Coast Guard pilots. The United States Coast Guard pilots made the single engine landing feel routine,
he wrote. No panic, just straight professionalism. After we landed, the pilots told me that was a first for them! We could not have been in better hands.
The statement underscores the calm response of the crew and passengers. The pilot’s communication with air traffic control also emphasized the professionalism of the crew, with the pilot stating in the recording that 14 people were on board and that the plane had about 2½ hours’ worth of fuel.
The incident follows a July incident involving Air Force One, where President Donald Trump said the Secret Service directed him to switch aircraft when leaving Turkey due to a security threat. While the Coast Guard and DHS have not commented on the connection, the recent landing adds to ongoing scrutiny of military and government aircraft safety.
The Coast Guard and DHS did not immediately return a request for comment on the incident. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has confirmed that the incident did not affect other flights at DCA.
The plane involved in the incident has been in service since 2002, and it is based at Air Station Washington. The aircraft was flagged in 2025 for being too old to be used. No further official statements from the Coast Guard or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detailed the mechanical issue or any subsequent inspection findings as of late Wednesday.
Coast Guard plane carrying DHS secretary makes emergency landing
The pilot’s communication with air traffic control, recorded on ATC.com, stated, We just lost our right engine. We’d like to declare an emergency and immediate landing at DCA,
according to recordings on ATC.com. The pilot also mentioned that 14 people were on board and that the plane had about 2½ hours’ worth of fuel, as reported in the recording. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said Fire and Rescue personnel checked the aircraft before it left the runway, with no disruption to other flights.
Mullin described the emergency landing on X, stating, The United States Coast Guard pilots made the single engine landing feel routine.
He added, No panic, just straight professionalism. After we landed, the pilots told me that was a first for them! We could not have been in better hands.
The cause of the engine failure is still under review. The Coast Guard and DHS did not immediately return a request for comment. The plane involved in the incident has been in service since 2002, and it is based at Air Station Washington. Wednesday’s emergency landing follows a July incident involving Air Force One, where President Donald Trump said the Secret Service directed him to switch aircraft when leaving Turkey in July due to a security threat.
It’s only up to Secret Service,
the president told reporters. I just follow what they'd like to do. So, I go by Secret Service and the military. They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane.
I guess there was a threat out there,
he said. I didn’t really ask too much about it.
White House communications director Steven Cheung said July 9 the change formed part of a distraction and misdirection
strategy against threats.
Military jet with DHS Secretary onboard makes emergency landing
The flight from Georgia to Washington, D.C., occurred on Wednesday, with the Coast Guard plane suffering right engine failure before the emergency landing. The incident was reported by 7News, which reviewed air traffic control audio. The 14 people on board included Mullin and other passengers, with no injuries reported.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority stated that the plane landed safely, was thoroughly checked by Airports Authority Fire and Rescue personnel, and proceeded off the runway. There was no disruption to other flights. The Coast Guard and DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.
The Gulfstream jet operating as Coast Guard flight C-101 made the emergency landing at DCA on Wednesday, according to airport officials and air traffic control audio reviewed by 7News. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin was on board during the incident; he confirmed on social media. The flight landed safely around 1:35 p.m. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said Fire and Rescue personnel checked the aircraft before it left the runway.
No panic, just straight professionalism,
Secretary Mullin wrote. After we landed, the pilots told me that was a first for them!
Fourteen people were on board the flight, according to the audio. There was no disruption to other flights at DCA.7News has reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard for more details.
The plane involved in the incident has been in service since 2002, and it is based at Air Station Washington. The incident occurred during a flight from Georgia to Washington, D.C., with the Coast Guard plane flagged in 2025 for being too old to be used, according to FOX News. The SourceInformation in this report is from FOX News.
