Thread: Mexican military helicopter lands in Texas

Mexican military chopper mistakenly lands in Texas

By The Associated Press
7:51 a.m., Aug. 7, 2011

HOUSTON — A Mexican military helicopter has landed in Texas by mistake.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the helicopter landed Saturday afternoon at Laredo International Airport after the pilot mistook the airport for a landing strip in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Laredo Port of Entry spokeswoman Mucia Dovalina says customs agents checked out the helicopter's occupants and let them return to Mexico. She declined to say how many people were on board or whether they were armed.

The Houston Chronicle reports ( http://bit.ly/nBsI9h ) this is the second time Mexico's military has crossed into Texas in recent weeks. A convoy rolled across the international bridge at Donna in July.

More troops have been deploying in northeastern Mexico as the nation attempts to combat drug gang violence.

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Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011 ... -texas/?ap

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the helicopter landed Saturday afternoon at Laredo International Airport after the pilot mistook the airport for a landing strip in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Seems to be a lot of that going around, "I didn't know!"

Texas needs to pass a law. You drive here, you fly here...
Your trucks, helicopters, planes, or bicycles belong to Texas now.
Then send the morons marching back to Mexico in pink boxers and I'm
with STUPIDO T shirts! Problem Solved.

Originally Posted by airdale

Texas needs to pass a law. You drive here, you fly here...
Your trucks, helicopters, planes, or bicycles belong to Texas now.
Then send the morons marching back to Mexico in pink boxers and I'm
with STUPIDO T shirts! Problem Solved.

There does seem to be a rash of these "mistakes" lately. Its almost like theyre testing the waters

Originally Posted by strugglingcitizen

There does seem to be a rash of these "mistakes" lately. Its almost like theyre testing the waters

They are on our side in the drug war. We gave them the helicopters and the training.

The United States has trained nearly 4,500 new federal police agents and assisted in conducting wiretaps, running informants and interrogating suspects. The Pentagon has provided sophisticated equipment, including Black Hawk helicopters, and in recent months it has begun flying unarmed surveillance drones over Mexican soil to track drug kingpins.

And there are more interactions coming in the future.

In recent weeks, small numbers of C.I.A. operatives and American civilian military employees have been posted at a Mexican military base, where, for the first time, security officials from both countries work side by side in collecting information about drug cartels and helping plan operations. Officials are also looking into embedding a team of American contractors inside a specially vetted Mexican counternarcotics police unit.

U.S. Widens Role in Battle Against Mexican Drug Cartels
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-246142.html

Residents React to Mexican Military Helicopter

Story Created: Aug 7, 2011 CDT
Story Updated: Aug 7, 2011

"Yesterday, a Mexican Military helicopter landed at the Laredo airport. it has some residents wondering just how safe our border is."

"I just really worry for my family. Without security, everyone would come in here unauthorized and make a lot of chaos."

The Mexican officers apparently landed at the Laredo airport after mistaking the landing strip for the one in Nuevo Laredo. One woman doubts it was a mistake.

"Well I am a little upset that it happened. I think they knew what they were doing. I don't think it was a mistake. I think they were here to find out maybe what's going on."

This isn't the first time Mexican Military have breached international protocol by being on this side of the border. In June, a truck full of Mexican Military soldiers were seen waiting to cross the border at bridge two. Many residents are wondering how much they will get away with.

"I think it worries us all. i think maybe people are trying to see how far they can take things and what they can possibly get away with. i think we should be aware, concerned and take precautions so they don't happen."

Mayor Raul Salinas says everything is under control and being a former FBI agent, he'll make sure it stays that way.

"I want to make sure that people understand that we have a safe community...we're taking precautions to ensure safety of our citizens."

Salinas says that mistakes happen and it's a good thing we have law enforcement keeping a close eye on everything.

"We have the right resources, personnel, boots on the ground...we ask Washington how important our border is."

The mayor adds that he will speak with the authorities in Mexico to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again.

"I will be having a conversation later this afternoon to make sure they understand our concerns and that appropriate action is being taken by Mexican authorities.

Customs and border protection says they are conducting a thorough investigation to secure our border remains safe and secure. Lauren Kendrick Pro 8 News.

http://www.pro8news.com/news/local/Resi ... 99608.html

related

Mexican military helicopter lands in Laredo by mistake

chron
By JASON BUCH
STAFF WRITER
Aug. 7, 2011, 12:44PM

A Mexican military helicopter landed Saturday afternoon at Laredo International Airport by mistake, said a spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Mucia Dovalina, the uniform public affairs officer for the Laredo Port of Entry, said the helicopter landed about 3 p.m., but she couldn’t share details such as the number of occupants or whether they were armed.

Dovalina said that, following protocol, CBP officers checked out the helicopter’s occupants, then allowed them to return to Mexico in the aircraft.

“The only thing that I can tell you is that they did land here,â€

Mistake my cute patoot!!! I don't believe a military helicopter doesn't have GPS.

CBP Releases Statement About Mexican Incursion in Laredo

Reported by: Farrah Fazal
Last Update: 1:22 pm

LAREDO - A picture from Pro 8 News in Laredo shows a Mexican military chopper on the tarmac at the Laredo International Airport. A Customs and Border Protection chopper sits right behind it. The helicopter landed Saturday at the airport.

Customs and Border Protection released a statement about the incursion. It says, "The Mexican officers apparently inadvertently landed at the Laredo airport after mistaking the landing strip for the one in Nuevo Laredo. Protocols are enacted to address any incident that may occur such as this incursion."

This is the second incident in a week. We are still trying to get information about a Mexican helicopter spotted near Roma-Escobares early in the morning last week. The chopper crossed into the United States side of the Rio Grande. It eventually did cross back over to Mexico.

http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/CB ... I6_Hw.cspx