Nearly two years after the dramatic capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, the FBI has unveiled new details about the Beechcraft King Air aircraft involved in their transfer. The plane played a key role in the July 25, 2024, operation at a small airport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, near El Paso, Texas.

On July 1, 2026, the FBI formally donated the plane to the War Eagles Air Museum at the Doña Ana County Airport in Santa Teresa, where it will be displayed for at least two years. During the public event, led by FBI agent Conal L. Whetten and museum staff, journalists were given a rare look inside the aircraft, which is part of a collection mostly featuring vintage military planes.

The FBI’s report revealed that the plane’s serial number had been tampered with. While the door frame showed the number BB-1137, investigators found the real serial number—BB-191—hidden inside various internal panels, confirming the plane was manufactured in 1976. The registration number N287KA was also cloned, a fact previously reported.

The aircraft had undergone multiple reconstructions and had been repainted at least three times throughout its life. Notably, it lacked an emergency locator transmitter (ELT), a critical safety device usually installed in the tail, and several engine data plates were missing or altered. The landing gear appeared to be one of the most recent additions, with excessive tire wear and size discrepancies noted.

Inside the cockpit, the FBI discovered non-standard avionics, including a coded digital system requiring a specific sequence to power on the Garmin panel. Only four flight plans were saved in the Garmin GTN 750 unit. The plane also contained modified fuel system components, such as an internal fuel cell, which extended its flight range.

The FBI detailed extensive modifications across the plane’s tail, wings, cabin, engines, and nose compartment. For example, panels on both sides of the tail were removed, navigation components were missing, and the rear signal light was painted over, making it invisible during operation. The wings were in good condition but lacked position and strobe light lenses on their tips. Signs of fuel leaks were evident near the wing roots, where repairs had been made with mismatched rivets.

This aircraft was central to the capture of two of Mexico’s most notorious drug lords. According to official Mexican accounts and Zambada’s own statements, “El Mayo” was forcibly taken to the United States after being betrayed by Guzmán López, son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Guzmán López had summoned “El Mayo” to a meeting in Culiacán, Sinaloa, under the pretense of mediating a political conflict. Instead, “El Mayo” was subdued by Guzmán López’s men, tied up, and transported across the border.

Both “El Mayo” and Guzmán López have since pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and are awaiting sentencing hearings scheduled for July 20 and August 31, respectively.

The FBI’s donation of the plane underscores its commitment to national security and relentless fight against violent crime. For the communities affected by drug trafficking and violence, understanding the tools and tactics behind these operations offers insight into the complex challenges law enforcement faces—and the importance of innovative approaches to public safety.