Rep. Vasquez Holds Briefing with National Transportation Safety Board for Answers on Deadly Civilian Plane Crash Near Ruidoso

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On July 14, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) met with National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials to help identify answers and accountability for the deadly medical plane crash that took place near Ruidoso in May, following reports that military testing may have played a role in the crash.

Following the tragic crash near Ruidoso, Rep. Vasquez requested a briefing from the NTSB to ensure appropriate steps are being taken to understand the cause of the accident, address any underlying safety issues, and protect New Mexicans from similar incidents in the future. On Tuesday, Rep. Vasquez received a briefing from NTSB Chairwoman Homendy and other NTSB officials, during which they shared that investigations are still underway and were delayed by the Seven Cabins Fire which engulfed the crash site following the accident.

"This week, I communicated with NTSB officials that a thorough investigation must be concluded to fully understand the cause of this tragic and fatal crash, and prevent future accidents in the future," said Vasquez. "No pilot or their passengers should fly in uncertain conditions with multiple challenging circumstances that are preventable, but outside of their control. My prayers are with the families of those who passed and I promise them to get answers and prevent future tragedies."

On May 14, 2026, a medical transport plane crashed near Ruidoso in the Capitan Mountains. The plane had taken off from Roswell at 11:52 p.m. with a final destination of the Sierra Blanca Regional Airport in Alto, New Mexico. However, at 12:15 a.m., the plane crashed, killing all four passengers onboard and sparking the Seven Cabins wildfire in the surrounding area, which has since burned over 31,000 acres. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that the NTSB and FAA are investigating.

In mid-June, the NTSB released a preliminary report on the crash noting that the pilot of the aircraft was having navigational issues while jamming technology testing was concurrently underway by the Department of Defense at White Sands Missile Range.

The NTSB is responsible for conducting objective investigations into transportation safety incidents such as plane crashes and train derailments. They are also responsible for making safety recommendations and assisting victims and survivors of these disasters.

Vasquez has repeatedly worked to keep New Mexicans safe by holding the federal government accountable for aviation incidents impacting New Mexico's 2nd Congressional district, including the abrupt El Paso airspace closure in February 2026:

• On February 12, 2026, Reps. Vasquez and Escobar, as well as Senators Heinrich and Luján, demanded a classified briefing on the airspace closure.
• In a hearing on March 17, 2026, Rep. Vasquez pressed DoD Assistant Secretary Joseph Humire for answers as to where the communications failure occurred and what steps the DoD was taking to prevent similar chaotic, dangerous situations from occurring in the future.
• Vasquez also asked Humire about the risks counter-drone laser systems being used by the DoD posed to civilians and secured a commitment for a briefing from DoD officials on the incident, which took place on April 28, 2026.
• On June 5, Vasquez secured a critical, bipartisan win in his ongoing fight to get the accountability and answers - an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Department of Defense to provide a report on its coordination process with DHS and FAA, an explanation as to what caused the chaotic closure of the El Paso Airport in February, and details on how such incidents can be prevented in the future.

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