Mexican Navy Medical Mission Plane Crashes in Texas, Resulting in 5 Fatalities
A small Mexican Navy plane, carrying a young medical patient and seven others, tragically crashed on Monday near Galveston, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals. This incident has prompted a search operation in the waters along the Texas coast, as officials work to gather more information.
Among the passengers were four Navy officers and four civilians, including a child, as reported by Mexico’s Navy in a statement to The Associated Press. Notably, two of the civilians were affiliated with a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting Mexican children suffering from severe burns, which includes transporting them to a hospital in Galveston.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Baker confirmed that at least five individuals aboard the aircraft had perished, although he did not disclose the identities of the deceased.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. In a statement, Mexico’s Marines expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragic event.
The crash occurred on Monday afternoon in Galveston Bay, close to the causeway that links Galveston Island to the mainland. Emergency responders and search teams quickly arrived at the scene, which is located near a popular beach destination approximately 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) southeast of Houston.
Sky Decker, a professional yacht captain residing about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the crash site, took immediate action to assist. He recounted how he picked up two police officers who guided him through thick fog to the nearly submerged plane. Upon reaching the wreckage, Decker discovered a severely injured woman trapped beneath debris.
“I couldn’t believe it. She had maybe a 3-inch air gap to breathe,” he recalled. “There was jet fuel mixed with the water, and the fumes were overwhelming. She was really fighting for her life.”
Decker also managed to pull out a man seated in front of her, who unfortunately had already succumbed to his injuries. Both victims were dressed in civilian clothing.
According to Mexico’s Navy, the plane was engaged in a medical mission in collaboration with the Michou and Mau Foundation, which specializes in emergency transports for children with life-threatening burns to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston. The foundation expressed its condolences on social media, stating, “We share their grief with respect and compassion, honoring their memory and reaffirming our commitment to providing humane, sensitive, and dignified care to children with burns.”
The Navy’s statement indicated that the plane experienced an “accident” during its approach to Galveston but did not provide further details.
Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have arrived at the crash site, as confirmed by the Texas Department of Public Safety on social media platform X. A spokesperson from the NTSB stated they are “aware of this accident and are gathering information about it.” The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office has deployed its dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit, and patrol to assist in the response.
It remains unclear whether weather conditions played a role in the crash. The area has been experiencing foggy weather in recent days. Cameron Batiste, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, noted that around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, fog rolled in, reducing visibility to about half a mile.
Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The most important insurance news, in your inbox every business day.
Get the insurance industry’s trusted newsletter
A small Mexican Navy plane, carrying a young medical patient and seven others, tragically crashed on Monday near Galveston, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals. This incident has prompted a search operation in the waters along the Texas coast, as officials work to gather more information.
Among the passengers were four Navy officers and four civilians, including a child, as reported by Mexico’s Navy in a statement to The Associated Press. Notably, two of the civilians were affiliated with a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting Mexican children suffering from severe burns, which includes transporting them to a hospital in Galveston.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Baker confirmed that at least five individuals aboard the aircraft had perished, although he did not disclose the identities of the deceased.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. In a statement, Mexico’s Marines expressed their heartfelt condolences to the families affected by this tragic event.
The crash occurred on Monday afternoon in Galveston Bay, close to the causeway that links Galveston Island to the mainland. Emergency responders and search teams quickly arrived at the scene, which is located near a popular beach destination approximately 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) southeast of Houston.
Sky Decker, a professional yacht captain residing about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the crash site, took immediate action to assist. He recounted how he picked up two police officers who guided him through thick fog to the nearly submerged plane. Upon reaching the wreckage, Decker discovered a severely injured woman trapped beneath debris.
“I couldn’t believe it. She had maybe a 3-inch air gap to breathe,” he recalled. “There was jet fuel mixed with the water, and the fumes were overwhelming. She was really fighting for her life.”
Decker also managed to pull out a man seated in front of her, who unfortunately had already succumbed to his injuries. Both victims were dressed in civilian clothing.
According to Mexico’s Navy, the plane was engaged in a medical mission in collaboration with the Michou and Mau Foundation, which specializes in emergency transports for children with life-threatening burns to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston. The foundation expressed its condolences on social media, stating, “We share their grief with respect and compassion, honoring their memory and reaffirming our commitment to providing humane, sensitive, and dignified care to children with burns.”
The Navy’s statement indicated that the plane experienced an “accident” during its approach to Galveston but did not provide further details.
Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have arrived at the crash site, as confirmed by the Texas Department of Public Safety on social media platform X. A spokesperson from the NTSB stated they are “aware of this accident and are gathering information about it.” The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office has deployed its dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit, and patrol to assist in the response.
It remains unclear whether weather conditions played a role in the crash. The area has been experiencing foggy weather in recent days. Cameron Batiste, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, noted that around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, fog rolled in, reducing visibility to about half a mile.
Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The most important insurance news, in your inbox every business day.
Get the insurance industry’s trusted newsletter
