Texas DPS Aircraft Operations Division Rescues Stranded Hikers in Guadalupe Mountains

At the end of August, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Aircraft Operations Division (AOD) conducted a successful rescue of a family stranded in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Culberson County.

On August 20, at approximately 4:15 p.m., park rangers notified DPS’ AOD of a distressed family on Guadalupe Peak. The family, consisting of a 23-year-old male, a 23-year-old female, and a three-month-old infant, began their hike mid-morning. By 3:00 p.m., after covering nine miles, they had exhausted their water supply and were suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion due to high temperatures.

In response, DPS’ AOD deployed a Pilatus PC-12 airplane to locate the family. The aircraft crew identified the family on the mountain and subsequently dispatched an Airbus H-125 helicopter for the rescue. A Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) was lowered from the helicopter to assess the family’s condition and determined that a hoist rescue was necessary. The TFO successfully hoisted all three individuals into the helicopter, which then transported them to ground rescue teams for additional medical care.

The DPS AOD, one of the largest airborne law enforcement units in the U.S., provides statewide air patrol, criminal surveillance, and advanced rescue operations. The division operates 12 duty stations with 26 aircraft, over 350 drones, and more than 100 personnel.