At least ten people are feared to have lost their lives after a small private jet crashed into an industrial zone in central Mexico while attempting an emergency landing, triggering a major fire and large-scale evacuation, officials said on Monday.
The aircraft went down in San Mateo Atenco, a town situated about five kilometres from Toluca airport and nearly 50 kilometres west of Mexico City. The jet had departed from the coastal resort city of Acapulco before encountering technical trouble mid-flight.
According to Mexico State Civil Protection authorities, the plane was carrying a total of ten people, including eight passengers and two crew members. Rescue teams recovered seven bodies from the wreckage several hours after the crash, while operations continued to ascertain the final death toll.
Preliminary findings indicated that the pilot had declared an emergency and attempted to make a forced landing on an open football ground near the airport. However, the aircraft fell short of the intended landing spot and crashed into the metal roof of a commercial building, causing a powerful explosion and fire.
The impact ignited a massive blaze, with thick smoke visible from a distance and flames spreading rapidly through the structure. As a precautionary measure, around 130 people were evacuated from nearby premises while firefighters and emergency responders worked to contain the fire and secure the area.
Emergency crews remained at the site for several hours, clearing debris and ensuring there was no further risk to surrounding buildings. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash and the circumstances leading to the emergency landing attempt.
