Six people, including a 2-year-old, died when a Mexican Navy twin-turboprop carrying burn patients crashed into Galveston Bay; two people survived and are in stable condition. Dense, rapidly changing sea fog hampered both the crash response and the search for the missing. Authorities lost contact with the aircraft for about 10 minutes during its approach, President Claudia Sheinbaum said. The NTSB has opened an investigation, and recovering the wreckage could take a week or longer.
Six Killed, Including a 2-Year-Old, After Mexican Navy Plane Crashes Into Galveston Bay
Emergency crews respond near the scene of a plane crash in Galveston, Texas, on Monday that left at least three people, including a 2-year-old child, dead, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. - KTRK
A Mexican Navy twin-turboprop aircraft carrying medical patients crashed into Galveston Bay, Texas, on Monday afternoon, killing six people — including a 2-year-old — and leaving two survivors in stable condition, officials said. The last missing victim was recovered on Tuesday as search teams continued to comb the fog-shrouded waters.
Flight and mission: The small plane departed Mérida, capital of Mexico's Yucatán state, bound for Galveston Scholes International Airport. Authorities said the flight was part of a medical mission coordinated with the Michou and Mau Foundation to transport children with severe burns to Shriners Children's Hospital in Galveston.
Passengers and rescue: Eight people were aboard — four Mexican Navy crew members and four civilians. Two people were pulled from the wreckage alive and remain in stable condition. A local yacht captain, Sky Decker, who survived a childhood plane crash, waded into the water and extracted a woman from an air pocket inside the submerged wreckage before divers arrived; he later recovered the body of another passenger.
Weather and search challenges: Dense, rapidly changing sea fog near Galveston limited visibility at the time of the accident and complicated search-and-rescue operations. NOAA and local reports indicate visibility was reduced to about a quarter mile near Scholes Field when the Coast Guard was alerted around 3:17 p.m.
Investigation: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said contact with the aircraft was lost for roughly 10 minutes during its approach. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened an investigation; investigators said raising the wreckage from Galveston Bay is the first priority and could take a week or longer. The probe will examine three main areas: the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment. A preliminary NTSB report is expected within 30 days.
Agency responses: U.S. agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard, are assisting the investigation. Mexico's Navy extended condolences and said it is coordinating with the Mexican Consulate in Houston. The Michou and Mau Foundation posted a message of solidarity with the families and reaffirmed its commitment to compassionate care for burn-injured children.
"Until the black box is recovered and analyzed, it will not be possible to know the cause of the crash," President Sheinbaum said.
The NTSB will collect air-traffic-control communications, maintenance records and flight-tracking data as part of its inquiry. Local authorities and rescue teams continued to work on recovery and investigation efforts as the community absorbed the tragic loss.
