CBP helicopter crash lands in Mexico; 2 injured

McALLEN, Texas ( Border Report) — A U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter that was patrolling the Rio Grande in South Texas, made an emergency crash landing on the Mexican side of the river, injuring two CBP officers.

The helicopter crashed Thursday in Nuevo Laredo, in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which is south of Laredo, Texas, Laredo Fire Department spokesman Herman Martinez told Border Report on Friday.

“The helicopter went down on the Mexican side,” Martinez said. “They were patrolling the river and the nearest land was on the Mexican side so they went down there. They were kind of stranded on the Mexican side. But they were able to walk to the river and got on a boat.”

Martinez says Laredo Fire Department officials met them and transported the two male occupants — ages 41 and 43 — from the helicopter to a hospital in Laredo.

CBP said in a statement to Border Report that it was an Air and Marine Operations aircraft “out on a routine operation. Made an emergency landing in the vicinity of Laredo, Texas. All CBP personnel are accounted for.”

Martinez said the two AMO operators were in stable condition at an area hospital and both have been released.

It is unclear what caused the aircraft to go down, or whether Mexican officials assisted in the crash.

U.S. helicopters frequently patrol the Rio Grande and fly above the winding river and along the banks of the U.S. side of the river in South Texas.

Border Report has asked CBP officials if there is an agreement that allows them to fly over the international river and whether they occasionally venture into Mexican air space.

CBP says “additional information will be provided as it becomes available.”

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.