Engine catches fire on plane carrying US Homeland Security Secretary
A plane carrying US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's successor Marquain Mullin made an emergency landing in Washington after its right engine failed and caught fire. No one was injured.
A US Coast Guard Gulfstream C-37A jet carrying Homeland Security Secretary Marquain Mullin was forced to make an emergency landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington after one of its engines failed and caught fire mid-flight, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The aircraft changed course toward Washington after developing problems with its right engine. Fourteen people were on board, including Mullin and other senior Homeland Security officials. No one was hurt in the incident.
"We just lost our right engine and want to declare an emergency," the Coast Guard pilot told air traffic controllers during the flight.
Secretary's reaction
Mullin publicly thanked the crew for their work, saying the single-engine landing went smoothly and without panic. The pilots themselves reportedly admitted after landing that it was the first time they had faced such a situation.
According to the US Coast Guard, the modified business jet has been used to transport officials since 2002.
Aging equipment
The Department of Homeland Security has repeatedly stated that the Coast Guard's government aircraft is significantly worn and equipped with outdated avionics and communication systems. In 2025, the department's previous secretary, Kristi Noem, purchased two new luxury Gulfstream 700 jets for official leadership travel. It remains unclear why Mullin was not flying on one of the new planes, the outlet noted.
