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AWAITING INVESTIGATORUNCONFIRMED2026-10-14ACCREDITED INVESTIGATOR NEEDEDACTIVE MONITORING

Follow-up reporting and official statements are still being collected.

NTSB: CBP Air Interdiction Agent Blacked Out Before Fatal Potrero Crash Near San Diego

Aircraft:
helicopter
Operator:
CBP (Customs and Border Protection)
Registration:
not established
Location:
Potrero, near San Diego, United States
Occurrence type:
accident
Severity:
fatal
Investigation authority:
Not yet identified
Last verified:
2026-10-15 01:51Z

Reported, but not yet independently confirmed. Highest source tier held: Aviation media. 1 source attached.

CASE WATCH — SeyAero has prepared a computational workspace for this occurrence from open sources. This is not an investigation and contains no finding. The formal safety investigation is the responsibility of the State authority under ICAO Annex 13.

What is known

The NTSB's final report, published September 23, states that a CBP Air Interdiction Agent lost control of a helicopter during cruise flight. The pilot became incapacitated for undetermined reasons, leading to a fatal crash near San Diego.

What is not yet known

  • · What was the exact date and time of the crash?
  • · What was the helicopter's registration?
  • · What were the specific reasons for pilot incapacitation?

Evidence likely to be relevant

Flight data

  • · Flight data recorder or QAR critical
  • · Track data (ADS-B, radar) critical

Voice

  • · Cockpit voice recorder supporting
  • · ATC recordings and transcript supporting

Environment

  • · Weather observations and forecasts supporting
  • · Drift and current modelling supporting
  • · Acoustic observations supporting

Aircraft

  • · Maintenance and technical logs supporting
  • · Components and exhibits supporting

Human factors

  • · Crew records, duty and training important

External evidence

  • · Photographs, video and imagery supporting
  • · Witness and ground reports supporting

Site and recovery

  • · Wreckage distribution and site survey important

Sources

Source timeline

  • 2026-10-15 01:51Z · Case Watch opened from open-source reporting. Awaiting an investigator.

Investigation workspace

This file is prepared and unclaimed. Claiming it opens a private SeyAero workspace with the evidence plan, the sources and the timeline already in place.

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NEW AVIATION OCCURRENCE

SeyAero has opened a Case Watch for NTSB: CBP Air Interdiction Agent Blacked Out Before Fatal Potrero Crash Near San Diego.
helicopter · CBP (Customs and Border Protection) · Potrero, near San Diego, United States
Verification: UNCONFIRMED · Sources: 1
Investigation authority: not yet identified

Evidence plan prepared. Available for investigator claim.

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