Markwayne Mullin Plane Emergency Landing Follows Engine Failure

Markwayne Mullin Plane Emergency Landing Follows Coast Guard Engine Failure

A Markwayne Mullin plane emergency landing ended safely Wednesday after a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft carrying the Oklahoma native and Homeland Security secretary lost its right engine near Washington, D.C.

The Coast Guard Gulfstream jet was carrying 14 people when the pilot declared an emergency and requested an immediate landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on September 2. The aircraft landed safely, and no injuries were reported.

Mullin later praised the Coast Guard pilots for their response, saying they made the single-engine landing feel routine despite telling him afterward it was their first time experiencing that situation.

Markwayne Mullin Plane Emergency Landing Began With Right Engine Failure

The emergency developed Wednesday afternoon as the Coast Guard aircraft was approaching the Washington area.

At approximately 1:35 p.m., the pilot contacted air traffic controllers and reported that the aircraft had lost its right engine.

The pilot declared an emergency and requested an immediate landing at Reagan National. The aircraft reportedly had about two and a half hours of fuel remaining at the time.

The plane landed safely at the airport in Arlington County, Virginia, where emergency personnel were waiting.

According to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Fire and Rescue personnel inspected the aircraft after it landed, and the plane was then able to leave the runway.

Officials said the emergency caused no disruption to other flights at the airport.

Information about aviation incidents and the federal reporting process is available through the Federal Aviation Administration.

Mullin Praises Coast Guard Pilots After Single-Engine Landing

Mullin publicly praised the flight crew following the emergency, emphasizing the pilots’ professionalism during the engine failure.

“The United States Coast Guard pilots made the single-engine landing feel routine,” Mullin wrote on social media.

He added that there was “no panic, just straight professionalism,” and said the pilots told him after landing that the situation was a first for them.

Mullin said the passengers “could not have been in better hands.”

The incident placed national attention on the aviation responsibilities of the U.S. Coast Guard, which operates aircraft for missions ranging from transportation and logistics to search and rescue, maritime security and law enforcement.

The Coast Guard operates both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters across its aviation fleet, with crews trained to respond to emergencies that can develop during flight.

Emergency Landing Draws Attention to Coast Guard Aviation Fleet

The incident also comes as the Coast Guard continues efforts to modernize an aging aviation fleet.

Some Coast Guard aircraft have remained in service for decades, requiring continuing maintenance and modernization of avionics, communications and other systems.

The exact cause of Wednesday’s engine failure had not been publicly determined immediately following the incident. Officials initially described the situation as a possible mechanical issue, and there was no immediate indication that the emergency involved anything other than an aircraft malfunction.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security oversees the Coast Guard during peacetime operations, placing Mullin aboard an aircraft operated by an agency within the department he leads.

For Oklahoma, the incident carried particular significance because Mullin is a former Oklahoma congressman and U.S. senator who rose to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

Despite the loss of an engine, all 14 people aboard the aircraft landed safely, and no injuries were reported.

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