Airmen assist Mexican officials in locating fatal plane wreckage

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Susan A. Romano
  • Air Forces Northern Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --  In a turn of events that resulted in the death of four Americans, Airmen with the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center here assisted the Mexican government in providing closure to the families during a search for a small aircraft that had gone missing near the U.S.- Mexico border Oct. 15.

The Beechcraft plane, carrying members of the "Flying Samaritans" -- a volunteer organization comprised of physicians, nurses, dentists, pilots and translators who provide free medical care to people in rural areas of Mexico -- was traveling with two other aircraft from San Luis Obispo, Calif., to San Quintin, Baja, Mexico.

After stopping for fuel in Encinada, Mexico, two of the three aircraft landed safely at San Quintin, in Baja, but the third was overdue. The crews notified their company, the Flying Samaritans, who subsequently contacted AFRCC's 24/7 rescue hotline.

Controllers from AFRCC received a call at approximately 6:45 p.m. Oct. 15 from a representative of the Flying Samaritans to see what assistance the center could provide. AFRCC officials then contacted the U.S. State Department, the Baja Mexican Consulate and Mexico's Rescue Coordination Center to determine what actions could be taken and to initiate a mission of support.

In addition to utilizing a Spanish-speaking Airman from the 601st Air & Space Operations Center to initially assist with translation between the Mexican RCC and rescue coordinators and controllers here, AFRCC officials began extensive coordination between the Flying Samaritans and other agencies to locate any data that would be useful to the Mexican search efforts.

Searchers located the crash site Oct. 18, approximately one mile southeast of Soledad Bay in Baja.

"Although this particular search did not have the positive results we strive for, it is definitely an example of how important it is for our organization, as a part of the global search and rescue network, to share information and expertise with our counterparts in Mexico to conduct timely, safe and efficient searches," said Lt. Col. Chuck Tomko, the AFRCC commander. "We extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who perished in this crash."

AFRCC is the single agency responsible for coordinating all on-land federal search and rescue activities within the continental U.S.; with the additional responsibility for providing SAR assistance to Canada and Mexico. Since January 2010, AFRCC has been involved in saving more than 500 lives, ranging from locating flood victims and missing/overdue aircraft and personnel to providing cell phone and radar forensic data to search and rescue teams.