A Mexican Navy aircraft on a humanitarian medical flight crashed into the waters off the Texas coast on Monday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of at least five people, authorities have confirmed. The tragedy unfolded after air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane for approximately ten minutes.
Communication Lost Before Fatal Descent
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed the critical detail on Tuesday, stating that controllers lost communication with the small plane for about ten minutes prior to the accident. Initially, it was believed the aircraft had landed safely at its intended destination in Galveston, near Houston, before the grim reality emerged.
The cause of the crash, which occurred on Monday afternoon, is currently under investigation by multiple agencies. The plane came down in a bay near the base of the causeway linking Galveston Island to the mainland, a popular tourist area roughly 50 miles southeast of Houston.
Heroic Rescue Amidst Wreckage and Fuel
Mexico's Navy reported that a search-and-rescue operation pulled two survivors from the wreckage, while one person remained missing. Sky Decker, a professional yacht captain who lives near the site, described a dramatic scene after he rushed to help in his boat.
Guided by two police officers through thick fog, Decker located the nearly submerged aircraft. He entered the water and found a severely injured woman trapped under debris. "I couldn't believe it. She had maybe 3 inches of air gap to breathe in," Decker recounted. "And there was jet fuel in there mixed with the water, fumes real bad. She was really fighting for her life."
He said he also recovered a man seated nearby who had already died. Both were wearing civilian clothes.
Victims and Mission of Mercy
Of the eight people on board, four were Mexican Navy officers and four were civilians, including a child. The Navy confirmed the plane was conducting a medical mission in coordination with the Michou and Mau Foundation, a non-profit that assists in transporting Mexican children with severe burns to a hospital in Galveston.
Two of the passengers were affiliated with the foundation. In a social media statement, the organisation expressed its "deepest solidarity" with the families and reaffirmed its commitment to caring for burn victims.
President Sheinbaum offered her condolences, calling the event "very tragic." U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Baker confirmed the death toll of at least five but did not identify the victims.
Weather and Ongoing Investigation
While not confirmed as a factor, the area had been experiencing foggy conditions. A National Weather Service meteorologist noted visibility was reduced to about half a mile around the time of the crash at 2:30 p.m. on Monday.
Teams from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were on scene. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, with units including divers and a drone team, also responded to the crash site.
