Texas, Dec 23: A small aircraft operated by the Mexican Navy crashed near Galveston, Texas, while carrying a young medical patient and seven others, killing at least five people and triggering a major search and rescue operation along the coast, authorities said.
The Mexican Navy confirmed that eight people were on board the aircraft, including four naval officers and four civilians, one of whom was a child. Officials have not yet specified which of the passengers are among the dead. Two of those travelling were reported to be linked to the Michou and Mau Foundation, a non-profit organisation that supports severely burned children in Mexico.
The US Coast Guard said five bodies had been recovered, while search operations continued with the support of multiple local, state and federal agencies. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
According to officials, the aircraft went down near the base of a causeway close to Galveston, about 50 miles southeast of Houston. The Mexican Navy said the plane was on a medical mission when it suffered an “accident” and assured that a full inquiry would be conducted. It added that its personnel were working closely with US authorities during the search and recovery efforts.
Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board reached the site shortly after the crash, the Texas Department of Public Safety said. The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office deployed its dive team, crime scene unit, drone squad and patrol officers to assist in the operation.
Authorities urged members of the public to avoid the area to allow emergency responders to work safely and without obstruction.
Galveston, a popular island destination, has been experiencing dense fog for several days. A National Weather Service meteorologist said visibility had dropped to around half a mile at the time of the crash on Monday afternoon. Foggy conditions were expected to persist into Tuesday morning, though officials have not confirmed whether weather played a role in the incident.
