GALVESTON, Dec 23: A small Mexican Navy plane on a medical mission crashed Monday near Galveston, Texas, killing at least five people, officials said.
The aircraft was carrying a young medical patient, four Navy officers, and three civilians, including two members of the Michou and Mau Foundation, a nonprofit that transports children with severe burns to Galveston’s Shriners Hospital. Two others were seriously injured. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The accident occurred in Galveston Bay near the causeway connecting the island to the mainland.
Emergency responders and search teams rushed to the site, assisted by local residents.
Yacht captain Sky Decker described rescuing a badly injured woman trapped beneath debris and recovering a man who had already died, both in civilian clothing.
Thick fog and jet fuel in the water made rescue efforts dangerous.
Mexico’s Navy expressed condolences to the families of the victims, while the nonprofit emphasized its continued commitment to aiding children with burns.
The FAA and NTSB have arrived to investigate, with local authorities deploying dive, drone, and patrol teams. Weather may have played a role, as fog with half-mile visibility had moved into the area around 2:30 pm.
The tragedy underscores the risks involved in medical transport missions, especially in challenging coastal conditions. (AP)
