The Customs and Border Protection agency is mourning the death of AMO Agent Jeffrey Kanas, who died in a helicopter crash in east San Diego County earlier this week. In a solemn social media post from cbpgov, CBP asked for thoughts to be kept for "his family, friends, and colleagues." Kanas had been serving as an Air Interdiction Agent since October 2008.
On Monday around 10 a.m., the CBP Air and Marine Operations aircraft that Agent Kanas was piloting alone crashed, as detailed in a report by NBC San Diego. The accident occurred north of state Route 94 and was a mere two miles south of Barrett Lake, an area fraught with the complexities of border security. His death has cast a pall over the CBP community, which showed their respect by lining the procession route on the day of the crash.
The type of helicopter involved in the tragic event was a Eurocopter AS350 B3, often deployed on missions about border security. A CBP spokesperson, without giving further details about the investigation, confirmed the aircraft belonged to Air and Marine Operations. According to an interview with Hoodline, commercial pilot Robert Katz noted that flight data showed irregular flying patterns yet no immediate signs of mechanical failures.
Under the watchful eyes of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the inquiry into the crash is underway. Possessing a reputation for integrity, the NTSB promptly informed the public of their involvement, posting, "NTSB investigating Monday's crash of an American Eurocopter AS350-B3 helicopter near Potrero, California," on NTSB's Newsroom via Hoodline. The community awaits the outcome of the investigation, hoping it brings about enhanced safety measures for missions conducted near our national borders, fraught with challenges both seen and unseen.
