Texas’ Dramatic Back-to-Back Helicopter Rescue Missions: What We Know

Two massive search and rescues were just conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter crews in Texas. Both incidents were after emergency calls were made for hikers in immediate distress.

1Search and Rescue in West Texas

The first life-saving mission conducted by CBP's Air and Marine Operations (AMO) helicopter crew took place on August 9.

This was when officers in El Paso received an emergency call to rescue a hiker who had become severely dehydrated and could no longer move.

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter equipped with a hoist lift was immediately deployed to the Franklin Mountains in El Paso.

The aircraft departed at 3 p.m. with a rescue specialist aboard. After finally reaching the rescue site, the pilot hovered about 50 ft. above the incapacitated hiker while the specialist was lowered on a cable.

The hiker was then hoisted back into the helicopter and immediately underwent treatment. The pilot landed on a nearby road to be transferred to an ambulance heading to a local hospital.

Second Search and Rescue from Texas

The fun certainly did not end there. While the Black Hawk was en route for the first mission, they received a call for assistance from New Mexico State Police about a hiker who was experiencing chest pains and numbing fingers somewhere in the Organ Mountains.

In a bold detour, the crew was able to pick up an emergency medical technician (EMT) from a local fire department.

After searching the New Mexico mountain range for 30 minutes, they finally came upon the injured hiker. The specialist was hoisted down nearly 130 feet just to reach the poor soul.

After landing safely on a nearby road, this patient, too, was rushed to the local hospital for treatment.

After two back-to-back successful missions, the Black Hawk crew returned to the El Paso headquarters for a much-deserved rest.