Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was aboard a U.S. Coast Guard C-37A aircraft that made an emergency landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, after the plane lost its right engine. The pilot declared an emergency and reported that 14 people were aboard with about 2½ hours of fuel remaining. The aircraft landed safely, and no injuries were reported. Mullin later praised the Coast Guard pilots for handling the single-engine landing professionally.

Introduction

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was aboard a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft that made an emergency landing near Washington, D.C., on Wednesday after the plane experienced an engine failure.

The C-37A Gulfstream V was flying toward Washington when its right engine failed. The pilot contacted air traffic controllers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and declared an emergency, requesting an immediate landing.

There were 14 people aboard the aircraft, including Mullin, according to the pilot's communication with air traffic control. The plane landed safely at Reagan National at about 1:35 p.m., and reports indicated that those aboard were unharmed.

The incident is drawing additional attention because the aircraft involved is an older Coast Guard executive transport that the Department of Homeland Security had previously identified as needing replacement.

What Happened?

The Coast Guard aircraft was traveling toward Washington on Wednesday afternoon when the crew reported an engine problem.

According to an audio recording of the communication with air traffic control, the pilot told controllers: “We just lost our right engine” and requested an emergency landing at Reagan National.

The pilot also reported that 14 people were on board and that the aircraft had approximately 2½ hours of fuel remaining.

The aircraft diverted to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in northern Virginia. It landed safely and taxied away from the runway, with airport fire and rescue vehicles responding as a precaution.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said the landing did not disrupt other flights, according to NOTUS.

Mullin later confirmed that he had been aboard the aircraft and publicly thanked the Coast Guard pilots.

He said the pilots made the single-engine landing feel routine and praised their professionalism. Mullin also said the pilots told him afterward that experiencing such an engine failure was a first for them.

Key Details

The major facts currently confirmed include:

• Who was aboard: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and other DHS officials.
• Aircraft: U.S. Coast Guard C-37A Gulfstream V.
• Problem: The aircraft lost its right engine during flight.
• Passengers and crew: 14 people were aboard.
• Fuel: The pilot reported about 2½ hours of fuel remaining.
• Airport: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
• Outcome: The aircraft landed safely.
• Injuries: No injuries have been reported.
• Mullin's response: He praised the Coast Guard pilots for their professionalism.

The precise technical cause of the engine failure has not been publicly established in the information available so far. It would therefore be premature to attribute the failure to the aircraft's age or any specific maintenance issue.

Background: Why the Coast Guard Aircraft's Age Matters

The aircraft involved is significant because it is not a new jet.

The Coast Guard's official history says its C-37A Gulfstream V entered service on May 11, 2002, after being ordered in December 2000. The aircraft is based at Coast Guard Air Station Washington.

More recent Coast Guard procurement documents identify the aircraft as CG-101. A 2025 justification document said the aircraft was 23 years old at the time and faced increasing obsolescence and maintenance costs. It also noted that the aircraft was beyond Gulfstream's 20-year structural warranty.

The C-37A is part of the Coast Guard's Long Range Command and Control Aircraft fleet. These aircraft are used to transport senior Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security officials while providing communications capabilities needed by senior leadership.

The Coast Guard has also operated a newer C-37B, which it accepted in 2022. The service said that aircraft was intended to support DHS and Coast Guard executive leadership and provide secure communications during worldwide missions.

The Coast Guard Had Already Been Replacing Its Older Aircraft

The emergency landing comes after the federal government began a major effort to replace the older executive aircraft.

In 2025, the Coast Guard pursued the acquisition of two Gulfstream G700 aircraft to recapitalize and expand its long-range command-and-control fleet.

The government's procurement documentation specifically described the existing C-37A as an aging aircraft and said the new aircraft were intended to address long-term operational needs.

By early 2026, DHS said the Coast Guard had received the first of the two G700 aircraft on January 29, with the second expected by the end of fiscal year 2026. The new aircraft were described by DHS as part of a planned modernization of the Coast Guard's long-range command-and-control capability.

Recent Coast Guard contracting documents also indicate that the service's Washington aircraft fleet now includes the older C-37A, the C-37B and newer C-39A/G700 aircraft.

That context is important: the fact that the older C-37A experienced an engine failure does not by itself prove that its age caused the incident. However, the aircraft's age and previously documented modernization concerns make the incident relevant to the broader discussion about the Coast Guard's aviation fleet.

What Officials and Organizations Said

Mullin addressed the incident directly after the landing.

He credited the Coast Guard pilots with handling the emergency calmly and safely, saying the single-engine landing felt routine and describing their actions as professional.

The Coast Guard referred questions about the incident to DHS, while DHS directed inquiries to Mullin's social-media statement, according to CBS News and NOTUS.

No detailed official explanation of the engine failure was available in the initial reports reviewed for this article.

That distinction matters. The emergency landing is confirmed, but the cause of the engine failure remains a separate question.

Why This Matters

The immediate outcome is reassuring: the aircraft landed safely and there have been no reports of injuries among the 14 people aboard.

The incident nevertheless highlights the importance of aircraft reliability for senior federal officials and for the Coast Guard's command-and-control mission.

The C-37A is not simply a transportation aircraft. Coast Guard documentation describes its long-range command-and-control role as providing senior officials with communications capabilities while traveling.

The incident also puts renewed focus on a modernization program that was already underway.

The Coast Guard's current inventory includes four long-range command-and-control aircraft across the C-37A/B and C-39A categories, according to its June 2026 order of battle.

That means the emergency involving Mullin's aircraft occurred against a backdrop of an ongoing transition from older Gulfstream platforms to newer aircraft.

For taxpayers and lawmakers, the episode may also revive questions about the government's spending on executive aircraft. The purchase of two G700s in 2025 attracted congressional criticism over cost and priorities, even as DHS argued that replacing aging aircraft was necessary for safety and mission readiness.

What Happens Next?

The immediate emergency ended with a safe landing, but further information about the aircraft's mechanical failure could become available as the Coast Guard and other authorities assess what happened.

At this point, there is no verified evidence establishing that the aircraft's age directly caused the engine failure.

The broader aircraft modernization program is already moving forward. Coast Guard procurement records show that newer G700 aircraft are being incorporated into the long-range command-and-control fleet, while the older C-37A remains part of the Washington-based fleet.

Any official maintenance findings or investigation results would provide a clearer picture of why the engine failed and whether additional action is required.

For now, the clearest confirmed fact is that Markwayne Mullin and the other people aboard the Coast Guard aircraft reached the ground safely after the crew successfully completed a single-engine emergency landing.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What happened to Markwayne Mullin's plane?

Markwayne Mullin was aboard a U.S. Coast Guard C-37A that lost its right engine during flight on September 2, 2026. The pilot declared an emergency and diverted the aircraft to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where it landed safely.

2. Was Markwayne Mullin injured in the emergency landing?

No injuries have been reported. Mullin was among 14 people aboard the aircraft, and the plane landed safely.

3. Where did Markwayne Mullin's plane land?

The Coast Guard aircraft landed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the Washington, D.C., area after losing its right engine.

4. What type of plane was Markwayne Mullin traveling on?

Mullin was traveling aboard a Coast Guard C-37A Gulfstream V. The Coast Guard says its C-37A entered service in May 2002 and is based at Air Station Washington.

5. How many people were on the plane?

The pilot told air traffic controllers that 14 people were aboard the aircraft. Reports indicated that everyone landed safely.

6. Did the plane's age cause the engine failure?

That has not been established. The C-37A is more than two decades old and DHS had previously identified aging and obsolescence concerns, but there is currently no verified evidence that its age caused the specific engine failure on September 2.

7. Why does the Coast Guard use C-37A aircraft?

The aircraft supports long-range command-and-control missions and transports senior Coast Guard and DHS officials. Coast Guard documentation says these aircraft also provide communications capabilities for senior leadership while traveling.

8. Are newer aircraft replacing the older Coast Guard jets?

Yes. The Coast Guard has been modernizing its long-range command-and-control fleet with newer Gulfstream aircraft. DHS said the first of two G700s ordered under the 2025 modernization effort was delivered in January 2026, while recent Coast Guard documents show newer C-39A/G700 aircraft in the Washington fleet.

Sources / Content Source

This article was researched and synthesized from multiple reliable sources, with priority given to official government records and established news organizations.

Primary and authoritative sources used:

• U.S. Coast Guard historical and aircraft records on the C-37A and Air Station Washington.
• U.S. Coast Guard acquisition information concerning the C-37B and long-range command-and-control fleet.
• Coast Guard procurement documentation concerning replacement of the aging C-37A and acquisition of G700 aircraft.
• Coast Guard 2026 aircraft inventory/order of battle.
• CBS News reporting on the emergency landing and air-traffic-control communication.
• ABC News reporting on the emergency landing and passenger count.
• NOTUS reporting on the landing time and airport response.
• Reuters reporting on the engine failure and safe landing.
• White House records confirming Markwayne Mullin's position as Secretary of Homeland Security.

Fact-check note: The emergency landing, right-engine failure, 14 people aboard, safe landing and Mullin's comments are supported by multiple reports. The specific mechanical cause of the engine failure has not been established in the sources reviewed and is therefore not presented as fact.