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Air-Ambulance Crash During White Sands GPS Jamming Sparks 30K-Acre Fire

6/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Investigators confirmed the May 14 air-ambulance crash occurred during scheduled GPS jamming from White Sands Missile Range.
A Beechcraft King Air carrying four people struck Capitan Mountain in Ruidoso, New Mexico, killing all aboard.
Air traffic controllers halted the jamming after the crew reported GPS loss, then resumed it minutes later.
The impact ignited the Seven Cabins Fire, burning more than 30,000 acres.
The NTSB expects a final report within 12-24 months.

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Story summary

Investigators confirmed the May 14 air-ambulance crash occurred during scheduled GPS jamming from White Sands Missile Range.
A Beechcraft King Air carrying four people struck Capitan Mountain in Ruidoso, New Mexico, killing all aboard.
Air traffic controllers halted the jamming after the crew reported GPS loss, then resumed it minutes later.
The impact ignited the Seven Cabins Fire, burning more than 30,000 acres.
The NTSB expects a final report within 12-24 months.