http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=505987

Federal officials confirmed two Mexican military helicopter incursions took place in skies over Starr and Hidalgo County today but are asking the public not to be alarmed.

Local law enforcement officials were put on alert after a Mexican military helicopter was spotted in Alto Bonito and headed east into Hidalgo County.

Sources told Action 4 News tha tthe helicopter flew from Alto Bonito and then over Sullivan City and La Joya around 1 p.m. Thursday.

Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations confirmed that there were two helicopter incursions –– one between 9 and 10 am. and then another at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Incursions Explained

Air and Marine Operations spokesman Juan Muñoz-Torres told Action 4 News that the agency was informed about the incursions by the Mexican government.

Muñoz-Torres said the public should not be alarmed by the incursions.

The Air and Marine Operations spokesman said that a long-standing agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada allows for temporary incursions for medical or law enforcement purposes.

Rio Grande Valley residents have reported at least four Mexican helicopter incursions since March in communities along the border from Brownsville to Zapata.

Alto Bonito is located off U.S. Expressway 83 east of Rio Grande City and about two to three miles north of the Rio Grande river.

Muñoz-Torres said Mexican military helicopter have increased due to the ongoing drug war south of the border.

The Air and Marine Operations spokesman said Mexican military helicopters cross the border for intelligence purposes allowing officials to get another view or perspective of their target area.

"They are not performing operations in the United States," Muñoz-Torres said.

Local Law Enforcement Reacts

Zapata County Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez told Action 4 News that he doesn't buy it.

Gonzalez said federal law enforcement officials did not inform local law enforcement officials about the incursions in today's incident and past incidents.

"They need to provide information to local law enforcement," Gonzalez said. "When people call us, we can tell them not to be alarmed."

Sheriff Gonzalez said Zapata residents witnessed a Mexican helicopter fly across Falcon Lake and hovering above a home there back in March.

Gonzalez said federal officials never provided an explanation for that incident or others.

Sheriff Gonzalez said he doesn't believe the Mexican helicopters are crossing to get a different angle or view of the Mexican said.

He said the helicopters in the Zapata incident and others are flying below the radar.

"If that's the case, they need to flya a little bit higher," Gonzalez said.

Muñoz-Torres said the agency is looking to improve communications about the incursions through interagency task forces.

He said the Mexican military has a liaison at an Air and Marine Operations facility in California.

"More education is needed," Muñoz-Torres said.

Fuck education, more Stinger missiles are needed.

Even their helicopters don't respect our borders.  

In other news, sheriff Joe orders 50 Stinger missiles.

Obama has a long mustache

Hell a Garand will drop one almost  as good as a stinger............Just sayin!

Any other country and they would have been "escorted" down to the nearest highway...but instead we just get told...Dont worry its ok...

They are just askin' for it, aren't they?

Cartels flying in dope. Nothing to see here, no need to panic.

With stories like this and lame replies such as those given by Federal authorities, it kind of makes the wild conspiracy theories about officials at the highest levels in US government being involved in drug smuggling not seem so wild. Our government refuses to seal the damn border and only makes lame excuses when Mexican aircraft violate our air space at low altitudes. So what the hell are we as citizens suppose to believe? Obviously someone is benefiting and it isn't folks like us. Stuff like this really makes you think.

Ya' know... first post and all
-SleeperShooter

Last administration told us the same thing also

Col. John 'Hannibal' Smith:
General Tuco, you are currently engaged in unauthorized warfare on United States Military Personnel.




General Javier Tuco:
No no no no no no, you engaged me!




Col. John 'Hannibal' Smith:
Repeat, you are engaged in unauthorized warfare on United States Military Personnel... over United States airspace.




General Javier Tuco:
What?




Col. John 'Hannibal' Smith:
Alpha. Mike.




Lt. Templeton 'Faceman' Peck:
Foxtrot!




Col. John 'Hannibal' Smith:
Foxtrot!




Lt. Templeton 'Faceman' Peck:
In other words, adios mother

I believe things are about to get interesting....

Couldnt have said it better myself

Beat me to it. Door-gunning dope-slingers.

Yep...

If some rancher just "happens" to shoot one down, how the hell would the Mex Gummint explain what it was doing there?

Or have we given Texas back recently?

Since the Federal Govt has all but legally seceded southern Arizona to the Mexicans maybe they thought they were
flying over their newly acquired territory.

Right, because this is the first time something like this has happened and our Government has made it clear they will not tolerate any crossing of the border......

If it were confirmed by markings, etc, and it was fired on by concerned citizens, would it be a good shoot?

Texas = norte mexico

i am sick of hearing about shit like this....if something doesn't change bad shit is gonna start happening

1st post nails it

They are just checking to see if the Whitehouse has any balls. We have given them their inch and they are now taking their mile. It is going to continue to get worse. You guys are dreaming if you think there will be any retaliation against the Mexicans, either the Mexican Government or the Mexican drug cartels.

Well how else are they going to drop cash or coke to there pickup guys?

There was an article in Air&Space 15 or so years ago about a logging helicopter getting shot down with a broadhead arrow.

Group Buy on barrage balloons?

Just using military helicopters to make the drug drop offs that American military helicopters refuse to make.

Video it.

Youtube it.

Sit back and watch the fireworks.

there is a fire at the travel agency.

Suddenly, I appreciate my Canadian neighbors in a much greater fashion.

the tumbleweed has a flat

To be fair, there's only about a 100% chance you are right.

Now I am mad, they did it in California!















 

Pass the stingers please.

There's already 20 million or so of them already here illegally and these same folks are telling us not to worry.

If they were in US airspace in accordance with a treaty the US has with Mexico (As the article says there is), then no. It would likely get you in trouble.

NTM

Federal prison for a very, very long time.





If the feds don't see an issue and keep turning the other cheek, well, you can only assume they support the Mexicans.



 

I agree more education is needed.





How far do you lead a helicopter with a .50 at 1000m moving at cruising speed with a 15knot crosswind on a 45 degree angle?