A state police officer was critically wounded when suspected drug cartel gunmen shot up a state police helicopter in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, a police official said.
The attack occurred while the helicopter was patrolling along mountains in the Coyame area between the border town of Ojinaga and Chihuahua City, State Public Safety Secretary Gilberto Loya
said at a news conference Monday, Sept. 14.The helicopter crew had spotted an armed group and alerted units on the ground on Saturday, Sept. 12, when the helicopter began taking gunfire from shooters on a mountainside, Loya said.
The helicopter was struck by at least 24 shots, including one that wounded a crew member, Loya said. The pilot took evasive maneuvers to escape. Both pilots are
former members of the Mexican Air Force.
The wounded officer was flown to a hospital in Chihuahua City, where he remains hospitalized in critical condition and his family is being given support, Loya said.
The helicopter was struck by various rifle rounds, but there was no evidence the aircraft was hit by .50-caliber rifle fire, as some rumors suggested, Loya said. An investigation into the shooting continues.
The state public safety department has four other helicopters and the attack will not stop aerial operations, Loya said.
Mexico security forces respond to police helicopter attack
In response, a large force of Chihuahua state police officers and soldiers from Mexico's 5th Military Zone, which covers the state of Chihuahua, was deployed to the "corridor" from Chihuahua City to Ojinaga, Loya said.
State police seized:
- An observation post that had a long-range camera equipped with solar panels, batteries and an internet satellite system connection.
- A pickup truck, which had been reported stolen in the U.S., containing tactical vests and ammunition, was found on a ranch in the Lomita Blanca area.
- Arrested one person who allegedly had an AR-15 rifle and a stolen Ford Lobo truck.
The attack on the state police helicopter follows the Sept. 8 attack on Epifanio N., known as "Pepa," the accused leader of La Linea (Juárez drug cartel) crime organization in Ojinaga, which is across the Rio Grande from Presidio, Texas.
The arrest of "Pepa" by Mexican federal agents and the military was carried out with intelligence provided by the U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel, U.S. and Mexican authorities said.
U.S. Northern Command described it as the first high-profile arrest of a key leader since La Linea (Juárez drug cartel) was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
The attack on the police helicopter comes amid preparations for Mexican Independence Day celebrations this week.
"This reminds us of the importance of fighting against these narcotraffickers and terrorists to be able to save our national sovereignty," Loya said.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Chihuahua state police helicopter ambushed, officer critically wounded
