WASHINGTON: A Mexican Navy aircraft conducting a humanitarian medical mission crashed into Galveston Bay, Texas, killing at least five people, including a two-year-old child, authorities said.
The aircraft, identified as a King Air ANX-1209, was transporting pediatric burn patients from Mérida, Mexico, to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston. The mission was coordinated with the Michou and Mau Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that assists children with severe burn injuries.
There were eight people on board the plane — four Mexican Navy crew members and four civilians. Among the deceased are three Navy personnel: Lieutenant Junior Grade Víctor Rafael Pérez Hernández, Lieutenant Junior Grade Juan Iván Zaragoza Flores, and Seaman Guadalupe Flores Barranco, along with at least two civilians.
Two people were rescued from the water and rushed to the hospital, while one individual remains missing. Search and rescue operations are continuing, led by the US Coast Guard with support from local agencies.
The crash occurred as the aircraft was approaching Scholes International Airport. Witnesses and weather officials reported dense fog at the time, with visibility reduced to about half a mile.
The cause of the accident is under investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. The Mexican Navy has also announced an internal inquiry and said it is coordinating closely with the Mexican Consulate in Houston.
