DHS Secretary Lauds Pilots of Coast Guard C-37A After Emergency Landing

Military aircraft carrying Secretary Markwayne Mullin entered service in 2002 and is close to 25 years old.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, September 03, 2026 at 02:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A U.S. Air Force C-37A taxis at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho in 2020. [Credit: U.S. Air Force/Andrew Kobialka]

Key Takeaways:

A nearly 25-year-old U.S. Coast Guard C-37A aircraft carrying DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and others safely landed after experiencing an engine loss, with pilots lauded for their professionalism.
The incident underscored existing concerns about the Coast Guard's aging C-37A aircraft, which is considered to be nearing or past its operational service life.
The need to replace these older aircraft has been a debated issue, with former DHS officials citing safety and obsolescence, while some congressional members questioned the funding allocation amidst other aging Coast Guard assets.
Despite funding objections, DHS has reportedly purchased two new Gulfstream jets for $172 million to modernize its fleet, though these aircraft are not yet in service.

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Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin praised the pilots of a nearly 25-year-old U.S. Coast Guard aircraft after they safely landed Mullin and about a dozen others at Reagan National Airport (KDCA) in Washington, D.C., following an engine loss on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) said in a statement shared with FLYING that the aircraft—a Gulfstream V operating for the Coast Guard as C-37A with the call sign “Coast Guard 101”—landed safely at Reagan National after pilots reported a “possible mechanical issue” around 1:35 p.m. EDT. No injuries were reported, and the MWAA said there was no disruption to other flights.