The medical plane that crashed in New Mexico in May this year, killing all four on board, likely happened because of an electronic warfare exercise being conducted at the nearby White Sands Missile Range. According to a report by Wired that analysed an Associated Press finding in June, the GPS on the small twin-engine medevac aircraft failed because the military was jamming that signal throughout that area at the time.&nbsp;&nbsp;GPS jamming meant that the pilots had no way to know about the mountainous formation between their plane and the landing strip, which resulted in the crash. Besides killing the two pilots and two medical workers, it ignited a wildfire that wreaked devastation for weeks.<h2>Military had warned of GPS disruptions</h2>Low visibility, an overworked air-traffic control and the GPS jamming led to at least three other planes reporting navigation disruptions. The AP report had stated that the military had warned the pilots to expect the disruptions. However, the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report only talked about the GPS problems on board the flight, but the cause of the crash has not been officially identified as yet.&nbsp;"The loss of GPS should not result in the loss of an airplane so there’s got to be more to it than that," retired airline pilot John Cox, and CEO of Safety Operating Systems, told AP at the time. Airline pilot and aviation crash analyst Juan Browne told Wired, “When those lights go out, man, you know you are in big trouble.”<h2>GPS jamming in the United States</h2>This is the first known incident where military GPS caused a civilian plane to go down in US airspace. Wired reported that even though the pilots had already been warned about it, there was a lack of safeguards or air traffic control personnel to prevent a disaster. Notably, cases of GPS jamming have skyrocketed in recent years, going from four in 2020 to 50 in 2024, and 40 across 2025, according to data from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.&nbsp;Experts said that the pilots could have landed safely if they had relied on ground-based navigation systems or flown visually. The Army’s White Sands Missile Range is about 65 kilometres from Ruidoso, where the plane was trying to land at night.&nbsp;

The military's GPS jamming exercise likely caused the medical plane to crash in New Mexico in May this year. An initial report by the NTSB had flagged a GPS disruption on the plane. A report claims that this was linked to the jamming exercise at a missile range 65 kilometres away.

The medical plane that crashed in New Mexico in May this year, killing all four on board, likely happened because of an electronic warfare exercise being conducted at the nearby White Sands Missile Range. According to a report by Wired that analysed an Associated Press finding in June, the GPS on the small twin-engine medevac aircraft failed because the military was jamming that signal throughout that area at the time. GPS jamming meant that the pilots had no way to know about the mountainous formation between their plane and the landing strip, which resulted in the crash. Besides killing the two pilots and two medical workers, it ignited a wildfire that wreaked devastation for weeks. Military had warned of GPS disruptions Low visibility, an overworked air-traffic control and the GPS jamming led to at least three other planes reporting navigation disruptions. The AP report had stated that the military had warned the pilots to expect the disruptions. However, the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report only talked about the GPS problems on board the flight, but the cause of the crash has not been officially identified as yet. "The loss of GPS should not result in the loss of an airplane so there’s got to be more to it than that," retired airline pilot John Cox, and CEO of Safety Operating Systems, told AP at the time. Airline pilot and aviation crash analyst Juan Browne told Wired, “When those lights go out, man, you know you are in big trouble.” GPS jamming in the United States This is the first known incident where military GPS caused a civilian plane to go down in US airspace. Wired reported that even though the pilots had already been warned about it, there was a lack of safeguards or air traffic control personnel to prevent a disaster. Notably, cases of GPS jamming have skyrocketed in recent years, going from four in 2020 to 50 in 2024, and 40 across 2025, according to data from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Experts said that the pilots could have landed safely if they had relied on ground-based navigation systems or flown visually. The Army’s White Sands Missile Range is about 65 kilometres from Ruidoso, where the plane was trying to land at night.

The military's GPS jamming exercise likely caused the medical plane to crash in New Mexico in May this year. An initial report by the NTSB had flagged a GPS disruption on the plane. A report claims that this was linked to the jamming exercise at a missile range 65 kilometres away.

Did military GPS jamming cause a plane to crash in New Mexico? Here's what a report says

Eleven people have lost their lives after a civilian plane crashed in eastern France, local authorities confirmed on Sunday (June 28). According to the prefecture, the pilot and 10 passengers, including five students and five instructors, aboard the plane lost their lives in the crash. Officials have urged the people to "strictly avoid" the area surrounding the airport in the town of Tomblaine.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At least 11 dead in civilian plane crash in eastern France. <a href="https://t.co/sLRSJfF2yW">pic.twitter.com/sLRSJfF2yW</a>&mdash; Vani Mehrotra (@vani_mehrotra) <a href="https://x.com/vani_mehrotra/status/2071204225804304841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Multiple media outlets reported that the aircraft was transporting a group participating in a skydiving excursion. Meanwhile, the country's Interior Ministry stated that Interior Minister Laurent Nunez was travelling to the crash site.&nbsp;The deceased are expected to be self-employed nurses from Nancy who were participating in their first skydiving experience, according to Thierry Pechey, president of the Meurthe-et-Moselle branch of the Order of Independent Nurses, who told BFMTV. "It would appear that the victims are self-employed nurses," he said.&nbsp;Following the incident, authorities have also set up a medical and psychological support unit to assist the victims' families, who were at the site after the crash. Meanwhile, more information related to the incident is expected as the investigation progresses.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/worst-year-to-be-alive-when-skies-darkened-in-the-dark-ages-as-volcanoes-kept-erupting-1782560191068">Worst year to be alive: When skies darkened in the Dark Ages as volcanoes kept erupting</a><h3>Chopper crash in Saudi Arabia</h3>In a similar incident, 14 people who boarded a helicopter have died after the chopper crashed in Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura on Sunday, according to the Saudi state news agency. The chopper is said to have belonged to Aramco, a Saudi oil giant. &nbsp;The cause of the helicopter crash is yet to be known, as an investigation is underway.&nbsp;According to preliminary investigations, all the deceased are Saudi citizens. The Ministry of Energy has extended its condolences to the family members of those killed in the crash.&nbsp;“The Ministry of Energy extends its deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of the martyrs, asking the Almighty, the Most Glorious and Exalted, to grant them mercy and forgiveness, and to accept them among the martyrs. Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return,” read the statement.

The aircraft was transporting a group participating in a skydiving excursion. In response to the incident, officials have urged the people to "strictly avoid" the area surrounding the airport in the town of Tomblaine.

Eleven people have lost their lives after a civilian plane crashed in eastern France, local authorities confirmed on Sunday (June 28). According to the prefecture, the pilot and 10 passengers, including five students and five instructors, aboard the plane lost their lives in the crash. Officials have urged the people to "strictly avoid" the area surrounding the airport in the town of Tomblaine.

France plane crash: The aircraft was transporting a group participating in a skydiving excursion. In response to the incident, officials have urged the people to "strictly avoid" the area surrounding the airport in the town of Tomblaine.

VIDEO: 11 killed, including students, as skydiving plane crashes in eastern France

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Did military GPS jamming cause a plane to crash in New Mexico? Here's what a report says

11 killed, including students, as skydiving plane crashes in eastern France