A U.S. Customs and Border Protection pilot was killed in a Monday helicopter crash near the southern border in California, authorities said.Â
The Eurocopter AS35 helicopter crashed around 10:15 a.m. in a private field near Potrero, east of San Diego, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to Fox News Digital.
The helicopter was carrying only the pilot at the time of the incident. The FAA stated that both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct an investigation into the crash. The NTSB will lead the investigation process and share any developments as they arise.
The pilot was not identified.Â
New segments of the steel bollard-style border wall, including primary and secondary barriers, are erected along the US-Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana. This was observed during a tour with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on May 10, 2021, in the Otay Mesa region of San Diego County, California. Immigration and asylum matters along the roughly 2,000-mile (3,000-kilometer) US-Mexico border have been persistent challenges for both Democrats and Republicans.
Monday’s incident was the second time a helicopter has gone down in San Diego County this year, Fox 5 reported.Â
The act being argued in court called for 800 miles of double, reinforced fencing, although today less than 100 miles of double fencing exists. Regardless, California argues that waiver authority expired in 2008 and does not last forever. (REUTERS)
In February, a crash killed five U.S. Marines and prompted a massive foot search in the area during heavy rain and snow, the news outlet reported.Â
