Two Customs and Border Protection officers were taken to a local hospital after their helicopter crashed just south of Alamo.
The crash happened off South Alamo Road and the South Hidalgo County Floodway around 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Authorities say, luckily, the pilot and his passenger escaped the crash with minor injuries.
Those who live on Stewart Road just south of San Juan said they heard the helicopter moments before the crash—but never actually saw it.
“I heard this helicopter flying overhead and was expecting it to come our way,” Mitchell Whitney said. “All of a sudden I heard this loud thud."
Whitney said he and a friend went to investigate, but didn’t see anything.
He said it was just a short while later that Border Patrol agents and police started blocking portions of the road.
Agents have not confirmed whether or not the helicopter that crashed was involved in a chase just north of Trinity road in Alamo.
Agents did tell Action 4 News that the suspected smuggler in that chase lost control of his Ford pickup and flipped the truck.
Inside the truck agents found over 10 bundles of marijuana.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Statement:
Today, at approximately noon local time, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) EC-120 helicopter flying in support of routine border security operations was involved in a crash just south of Alamo, Texas. Initial reports are that a CBP pilot and observer were on board the aircraft at the time of the incident and taken to the local hospital for observations. No serious injuries were reported and the circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation at this time by the FAA. There were no reports of damage to property or additional injuries at the time of the crash.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT