Nick Benson
@ottergoose.net
Nerding out over geography, weather, LEGO, politics, and photography of Minnesota's railroad and aviation scene. Chief AvGeek at @JetTip.net.
📍 Burnsville, Minnesota, US
📍 Burnsville, Minnesota, US
New: FOIA'd emails from Signature Aviation managers to MSP staff confirm details about ICE flights here at Minneapolis - St. Paul Int'l, including one I photographed in April.
Details: ottergoose.net/ice-flights-...
Details: ottergoose.net/ice-flights-...
December 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
New: FOIA'd emails from Signature Aviation managers to MSP staff confirm details about ICE flights here at Minneapolis - St. Paul Int'l, including one I photographed in April.
Details: ottergoose.net/ice-flights-...
Details: ottergoose.net/ice-flights-...
Reposted by Nick Benson
These flights happen 2-4 times a week and have been happening for months. We will post whenever a flight is confirmed. Keep showing up, don't let them quietly deport our friends and neighbors.
About a dozen detainees were led out onto the tarmac at MSP airport on Friday and whisked away to Omaha.
The flight comes amid a surge in ICE activity targeting Somalis and Latinos in the Twin Cities.
The flight comes amid a surge in ICE activity targeting Somalis and Latinos in the Twin Cities.
December 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
These flights happen 2-4 times a week and have been happening for months. We will post whenever a flight is confirmed. Keep showing up, don't let them quietly deport our friends and neighbors.
Reposted by Nick Benson
About a dozen detainees were led out onto the tarmac at MSP airport on Friday and whisked away to Omaha.
The flight comes amid a surge in ICE activity targeting Somalis and Latinos in the Twin Cities.
The flight comes amid a surge in ICE activity targeting Somalis and Latinos in the Twin Cities.
December 6, 2025 at 3:57 PM
About a dozen detainees were led out onto the tarmac at MSP airport on Friday and whisked away to Omaha.
The flight comes amid a surge in ICE activity targeting Somalis and Latinos in the Twin Cities.
The flight comes amid a surge in ICE activity targeting Somalis and Latinos in the Twin Cities.
Reposted by Nick Benson
NEW: “I was here yesterday recording video and they were laying shackles out on the icy tarmac. It was 15 degrees. Terrible,” said a “very enthusiastic aviation geek” Nick Benson yesterday during a rally demanding an end to deportation flights at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
December 4, 2025 at 9:27 PM
NEW: “I was here yesterday recording video and they were laying shackles out on the icy tarmac. It was 15 degrees. Terrible,” said a “very enthusiastic aviation geek” Nick Benson yesterday during a rally demanding an end to deportation flights at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
My remarks at yesterday's protest of ICE deportation flights at Signature Aviation in Minneapolis.
Flights are happening more often, ICE is abandoning enforcement-norms, and our neighbors are leaving MSP in chains.
We all need to do our part, safely, legally, and creatively, to stop this.
Flights are happening more often, ICE is abandoning enforcement-norms, and our neighbors are leaving MSP in chains.
We all need to do our part, safely, legally, and creatively, to stop this.
Protesters rally to end deportation flights at MSP
YouTube video by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News
www.youtube.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:13 PM
My remarks at yesterday's protest of ICE deportation flights at Signature Aviation in Minneapolis.
Flights are happening more often, ICE is abandoning enforcement-norms, and our neighbors are leaving MSP in chains.
We all need to do our part, safely, legally, and creatively, to stop this.
Flights are happening more often, ICE is abandoning enforcement-norms, and our neighbors are leaving MSP in chains.
We all need to do our part, safely, legally, and creatively, to stop this.
Reposted by Nick Benson
(4/5) No worker should have to pray outside in all weather or go without a decent bathroom while corporations profit off their labor...
December 4, 2025 at 2:49 AM
(4/5) No worker should have to pray outside in all weather or go without a decent bathroom while corporations profit off their labor...
Additional coverage of ICE flight protests at MSP yesterday from FOX 9:
Protests against deportation flights gather at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
YouTube video by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
www.youtube.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Additional coverage of ICE flight protests at MSP yesterday from FOX 9:
Yesterday's protest of ICE flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International was covered by KSTP.
Minnesota protest organizers aim for peace amid rising tensions
YouTube video by KSTP 5 Eyewitness News
www.youtube.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Yesterday's protest of ICE flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International was covered by KSTP.
Reposted by Nick Benson
Over a hundred people rallied in 17-degree weather for over an hour outside of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to protest deportation flights that regularly fly out.
Over a hundred people rally against ICE flights outside MSP • Minnesota Reformer
Over a hundred people rallied in 17-degree weather for over an hour outside of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to protest deportation flights that regularly fly out. Nick Benson, a photogra...
minnesotareformer.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Over a hundred people rallied in 17-degree weather for over an hour outside of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to protest deportation flights that regularly fly out.
My remarks to the Metropolitan Airport Commission on Monday: ICE’s actions must be resisted peacefully, safely, legally, and creatively by everyone - we need to step up because this isn’t someone else’s problem.
Professional flight tracker speaks to MSP airport to STOP allowing illegal ICE deportations!
YouTube video by MN Fifty Fifty One
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 8:08 PM
My remarks to the Metropolitan Airport Commission on Monday: ICE’s actions must be resisted peacefully, safely, legally, and creatively by everyone - we need to step up because this isn’t someone else’s problem.
ICE Air getting shackles ready for five van loads of deportees today at MSP, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. It was 15° F, windchill 6°.
Route was AEX-MSP-OMA, operated by Eastern Air Express's N625SW as TYSON42, loaded and fueled at Signature Aviation, MSP's private jet terminal.
Route was AEX-MSP-OMA, operated by Eastern Air Express's N625SW as TYSON42, loaded and fueled at Signature Aviation, MSP's private jet terminal.
December 2, 2025 at 9:13 PM
ICE Air getting shackles ready for five van loads of deportees today at MSP, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. It was 15° F, windchill 6°.
Route was AEX-MSP-OMA, operated by Eastern Air Express's N625SW as TYSON42, loaded and fueled at Signature Aviation, MSP's private jet terminal.
Route was AEX-MSP-OMA, operated by Eastern Air Express's N625SW as TYSON42, loaded and fueled at Signature Aviation, MSP's private jet terminal.
Reposted by Nick Benson
This Wednesday, stand with workers against deportation flights at MSP!
10:30am at the Terminal 2 light rail station.
10:30am at the Terminal 2 light rail station.
December 2, 2025 at 12:50 AM
This Wednesday, stand with workers against deportation flights at MSP!
10:30am at the Terminal 2 light rail station.
10:30am at the Terminal 2 light rail station.
Reposted by Nick Benson
Society of Professional Journalists: Photographers say they were targeted by St. Paul police minnesotareformer.com/briefs/socie...
Society of Professional Journalists: Photographers say they were targeted by St. Paul police • Minnesota Reformer
Kerem Yücel, with MPR News, was hit in the shoulder and was transported to a hospital by ambulance; he was released and i recovering.
minnesotareformer.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Society of Professional Journalists: Photographers say they were targeted by St. Paul police minnesotareformer.com/briefs/socie...
While things were squirrelly in St. Paul, there was an ICE flight loading at Signature Aviation at MSP. Today’s was operated by Global Crossing’s N278GX: www.flickr.com/photos/cjdan...
ICE flight MSP 2025-11-25
Explore this photo album by Chris Daniel on Flickr!
www.flickr.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:35 AM
While things were squirrelly in St. Paul, there was an ICE flight loading at Signature Aviation at MSP. Today’s was operated by Global Crossing’s N278GX: www.flickr.com/photos/cjdan...
Reposted by Nick Benson
Incredible @matinastevis.bsky.social story about an asylum-seeker kept apart from her son and family as she ping-ponged back and forth between U.S. and Canadian immigration officials has a telling detail about ICE Air.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
November 26, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Incredible @matinastevis.bsky.social story about an asylum-seeker kept apart from her son and family as she ping-ponged back and forth between U.S. and Canadian immigration officials has a telling detail about ICE Air.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
UPS has hired Global Crossing to do peak flying for them this year, providing extra capacity for the holiday season.
Global Crossing also operates lots and lots of flights for ICE.
The UPS route just started this morning between BDL and SDF: www.flightaware.com/live/flight/...
Global Crossing also operates lots and lots of flights for ICE.
The UPS route just started this morning between BDL and SDF: www.flightaware.com/live/flight/...
November 25, 2025 at 4:47 PM
UPS has hired Global Crossing to do peak flying for them this year, providing extra capacity for the holiday season.
Global Crossing also operates lots and lots of flights for ICE.
The UPS route just started this morning between BDL and SDF: www.flightaware.com/live/flight/...
Global Crossing also operates lots and lots of flights for ICE.
The UPS route just started this morning between BDL and SDF: www.flightaware.com/live/flight/...
Reposted by Nick Benson
🏆⚽️✈️ After winning the NWSL championship Saturday night, Gotham FC have just departed San Jose on board the very same all-white Avelo jet (N805VL) that lost cabin pressure with shackled ICE abductees aboard two weeks ago and had to make an emergency landing in Las Vegas 😬
November 23, 2025 at 10:34 PM
🏆⚽️✈️ After winning the NWSL championship Saturday night, Gotham FC have just departed San Jose on board the very same all-white Avelo jet (N805VL) that lost cabin pressure with shackled ICE abductees aboard two weeks ago and had to make an emergency landing in Las Vegas 😬
Signature Aviation, Eastern Air Express, and ICE did a good job of minding close-up sight-lines yesterday during the protest, but they could still be seen from Terminal 1: www.flickr.com/photos/cjdan...
Flight track: adsb.lol?icao=ad563d&...
Flight track: adsb.lol?icao=ad563d&...
November 23, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Signature Aviation, Eastern Air Express, and ICE did a good job of minding close-up sight-lines yesterday during the protest, but they could still be seen from Terminal 1: www.flickr.com/photos/cjdan...
Flight track: adsb.lol?icao=ad563d&...
Flight track: adsb.lol?icao=ad563d&...
Reposted by Nick Benson
Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
Instead, the military service will classify them as “potentially divisive” under its new guidelines, which take effect next month. https://wapo.st/4p2HnKY
Instead, the military service will classify them as “potentially divisive” under its new guidelines, which take effect next month. https://wapo.st/4p2HnKY
November 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Exclusive: The U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify the swastika, nooses and the Confederate flag as hate symbols.
Instead, the military service will classify them as “potentially divisive” under its new guidelines, which take effect next month. https://wapo.st/4p2HnKY
Instead, the military service will classify them as “potentially divisive” under its new guidelines, which take effect next month. https://wapo.st/4p2HnKY
Reposted by Nick Benson
This Saturday 11/22, join us for a mindful gathering outside Signature Aviation as the ICE vans come through and the plane takes off.
These deportation flights are ramping up in frequency. Support immigrants. Let ICE know
WE ARE WATCHING.
3800 E 70th St, Minneapolis, MN 55450
8:30-10:30am
These deportation flights are ramping up in frequency. Support immigrants. Let ICE know
WE ARE WATCHING.
3800 E 70th St, Minneapolis, MN 55450
8:30-10:30am
November 20, 2025 at 10:47 PM
This Saturday 11/22, join us for a mindful gathering outside Signature Aviation as the ICE vans come through and the plane takes off.
These deportation flights are ramping up in frequency. Support immigrants. Let ICE know
WE ARE WATCHING.
3800 E 70th St, Minneapolis, MN 55450
8:30-10:30am
These deportation flights are ramping up in frequency. Support immigrants. Let ICE know
WE ARE WATCHING.
3800 E 70th St, Minneapolis, MN 55450
8:30-10:30am
Reposted by Nick Benson
Our speech about ICE flights at the Metropoltan Airports Commission this Monday.
November 20, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Our speech about ICE flights at the Metropoltan Airports Commission this Monday.
Reposted by Nick Benson
it turns out the Avelo ICE Air deportation flights are plagued with severe safety violations. excellent reporting from @gbrockell.bsky.social prospect.org/2025/11/17/i...
ICE Air’s Sloppy, Dangerous Deportation Flights - The American Prospect
Poor planning, mechanical issues, serious safety lapses, and the shutdown are taking a toll on Avelo, America’s most famous deportation airline, internal documents show.
prospect.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
it turns out the Avelo ICE Air deportation flights are plagued with severe safety violations. excellent reporting from @gbrockell.bsky.social prospect.org/2025/11/17/i...
Today's ICE flight at MSP was operated by Denver Air Connection's N975DC as TYSON60, flying the usual Mon/Wed route of AEX-MSP-OMA-AEX; three DHS vehicles delivered deportees to Signature Aviation's ramp at MSP around 11:45 AM, where ~17 people were shackled at their wrists, waist, and ankles.
November 19, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Today's ICE flight at MSP was operated by Denver Air Connection's N975DC as TYSON60, flying the usual Mon/Wed route of AEX-MSP-OMA-AEX; three DHS vehicles delivered deportees to Signature Aviation's ramp at MSP around 11:45 AM, where ~17 people were shackled at their wrists, waist, and ankles.
Reposted by Nick Benson
Marco Azogue worked nights cleaning commercial buildings in Minneapolis. He was arrested after a court hearing in his asylum case — and when he was loaded onto a plane at MSP, he didn't know where it would take him.
'We had no idea where we were going’: Deportees pass through MSP • Minnesota Reformer
When Marco Azogue climbed the stairs onto a plane parked on the tarmac of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, shackled at the wrists and ankles, he assumed the plane was taking him to his home...
minnesotareformer.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Marco Azogue worked nights cleaning commercial buildings in Minneapolis. He was arrested after a court hearing in his asylum case — and when he was loaded onto a plane at MSP, he didn't know where it would take him.
A single finger salute from the fourth ICE flight of the last seven days here at MSP. Today's flight was operated by Global Crossing's N966AD, and handled by Signature Aviation, who for some reason, has removed branding from their air-stairs.
Additional information: www.reddit.com/user/ottergo...
Additional information: www.reddit.com/user/ottergo...
November 16, 2025 at 10:05 PM
A single finger salute from the fourth ICE flight of the last seven days here at MSP. Today's flight was operated by Global Crossing's N966AD, and handled by Signature Aviation, who for some reason, has removed branding from their air-stairs.
Additional information: www.reddit.com/user/ottergo...
Additional information: www.reddit.com/user/ottergo...