The San Andreas Air National Guard says the Coral Island military aircraft seen over Paleto Bay is not one of its own. In a statement from its Office of Public Affairs, dated 29 September and signed by Capt. Elena R. Vasquez, Public Affairs Officer, the Guard says the flight “was conducted by personnel associated with the Government of Coral Island”, and that, on the information available to it, the aircraft “was conducting an authorized training flight”.
Weazel News reported earlier today that a Mammoth Avenger registered in Coral Island, a large military tilt-rotor built for transport and command, had been seen over the town where thousands of Los Santos evacuees are staying, and asked the Guard for comment. Coral Island’s government had already said the flight was for “training purposes”. The Guard also calls it training, and adds: “No live-fire exercises or weapons employment were associated with the operation, and the aircraft was not conducting a combat mission over Paleto Bay.”
The statement also confirms that the Guard knew the aircraft was there. It says it “maintained situational awareness of the aircraft while it operated within San Andreas airspace”. What it does not say is who authorised the flight, or whether the Office of the Governor was told. On the first, it says it “does not independently grant entry clearance to foreign military aircraft”. On the second, it says it “will not disclose internal operational or intergovernmental communications”.
The statement in full
The statement was issued by the Guard’s Office of Public Affairs and signed by Capt. Elena R. Vasquez, Public Affairs Officer. It is reproduced here in full, as written.
“San Andreas Air National Guard, Office of Public Affairs. For Immediate Release, September 29, 2026. Statement Regarding Coral Island Military Aircraft Operations.”
“The San Andreas Air National Guard is aware of reports concerning a Coral Island military aircraft observed operating in the vicinity of Paleto Bay.”
“The aircraft involved is not owned, operated, or crewed by the San Andreas Air National Guard. The reported flight was conducted by personnel associated with the Government of Coral Island.”
“The San Andreas Air National Guard does not independently grant entry clearance to foreign military aircraft. Authorization for foreign military aviation within San Andreas airspace is coordinated through the appropriate governmental, aviation, and defense authorities.”
“The San Andreas Air National Guard maintained situational awareness of the aircraft while it operated within San Andreas airspace.”
“Based on information available to the Guard, the aircraft was conducting an authorized training flight. No live-fire exercises or weapons employment were associated with the operation, and the aircraft was not conducting a combat mission over Paleto Bay.”
“Training operations involving military aircraft are conducted to maintain aircrew proficiency, aircraft readiness, navigation capability, and emergency-response preparedness. The training activity was not specifically directed at Paleto Bay or its civilian population.”
“Questions regarding the mission objectives, flight planning, or personnel associated with the aircraft should be directed to the Government of Coral Island.”
“With respect to notification of the Office of the Governor, the San Andreas Air National Guard will not disclose internal operational or intergovernmental communications. Appropriate authorities were notified through established channels.”
“At no time did available information indicate an immediate threat to the public, and the San Andreas Air National Guard remained prepared to respond should the situation have changed.”
“Capt. Elena R. Vasquez, Public Affairs Officer, San Andreas Air National Guard. Media Contact: San Andreas Air National Guard Public Affairs, [email protected], (555) 010-2746.”
Authorised by whom?
The Guard calls the flight authorised, but says it does not grant entry clearance to foreign military aircraft on its own. Authorisation, it says, “is coordinated through the appropriate governmental, aviation, and defense authorities”. It does not name those authorities, or say whether any of them approved this flight, or when.
Its account of the flight also comes with a qualifier: “Based on information available to the Guard, the aircraft was conducting an authorized training flight.” The statement does not say what that information was, or who supplied it.
The Governor’s office
Our first report asked whether Governor Diane Carrow’s office knew about the flight before the aircraft flew. The Guard will not answer that. Beyond its refusal, it says only: “Appropriate authorities were notified through established channels.” It does not say which authorities, when they were told, or whether the Office of the Governor was among them.
Capt. Vasquez also signed the Guard’s statement on the death of Governor Richard Ashcombe at Fort Zancudo, which Weazel News published on Monday. That statement did not say who the Guard told about the death, or when. This time the Guard says plainly that it will not say.
With respect to notification of the Office of the Governor, the San Andreas Air National Guard will not disclose internal operational or intergovernmental communications.
San Andreas Air National Guard, 29 September
Why Paleto Bay?
The Guard gives a general account of why military aircraft train: “to maintain aircrew proficiency, aircraft readiness, navigation capability, and emergency-response preparedness”. It does not say which of those this flight was for, how long the aircraft spent near Paleto Bay, or why the training brought it to a town that has taken in thousands of evacuees from Los Santos. It says the training “was not specifically directed at Paleto Bay or its civilian population”, and that at no time did available information indicate “an immediate threat to the public”.
Coral Island’s government, which first described the flight as being for “training purposes”, had not told Weazel News what the training involved when we first reported it. The Guard says questions about “the mission objectives, flight planning, or personnel associated with the aircraft” are for Coral Island’s government to answer. The statement does not mention Lucy Alvarez, the President of Coral Island, whom readers have reported seeing in closed Los Santos and in Paleto Bay. Weazel News has no information linking her to the flight.
Our questions
Which authorities authorised the flight, and when? Was the Office of the Governor among the authorities “notified through established channels”, and was it told before the aircraft reached Paleto Bay? Where did the “information available to the Guard” come from? When did the Guard first become aware of the aircraft, and how long did it stay near the town?
For the Government of Coral Island: what was the training for, why did it take place over Paleto Bay, and who was on board? For Governor Carrow’s office: did it know before the aircraft flew? We will publish any answers in full. If you saw the aircraft, or took pictures of it, the Weazel News tip line is open.
