Credited from: AA
A tragic incident unfolded when a small Mexican Navy plane crashed near Galveston, Texas, claiming the lives of at least five individuals, including a two-year-old burn victim. The aircraft was on a humanitarian mission for the Michou y Mau Foundation, which aids children with severe burns, when it went down in Galveston Bay. Two passengers were rescued, while one person is still unaccounted for, according to Channel News Asia, India Times, and ABC News.
The aircraft, which comprised four Navy officers and four civilians, experienced a fatal crash after losing communication with air traffic control for about ten minutes before its approach to Galveston. President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that among the deceased was the young patient whom the mission aimed to transport for medical treatment in the U.S. Following the incident, rescue efforts included personnel from both the U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency teams, as detailed by Al Jazeera and NPR.
The crash occurred in densely foggy conditions, restricting visibility to about half a mile, as observed by meteorologists from the National Weather Service. Witnesses reported chaotic scenes as rescuers and local citizens attempted to locate survivors amidst the wreckage. Eyewitness Sky Decker, a yacht captain who rushed to the scene, recounted finding a severely injured survivor trapped under debris. His accounts reflect the harrowing emergency response efforts taking place in the fog, as cited by BBC and Reuters.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board currently on-site to gather information. Authorities have emphasized the need for thorough analysis to understand the factors leading to this catastrophe, a sentiment echoed by local officials and representatives from the Michou y Mau Foundation who are mourning the tragedy along with the victims' families as noted by South China Morning Post and Los Angeles Times.