At least five people, including a 2-year-old child, died after a Mexican Navy aircraft transporting medical patients crashed into the waters of Galveston Bay, Texas.
Authorities responded to reports of the crash on Monday, Dec. 22 at about 3:17 p.m. local time, after the aircraft went down west of the Galveston Causeway, according to a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) statement.
Mexico’s Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) said in a translated statement posted on X that eight people were aboard at the time of the incident. The agency reported that five people were killed, one person remained missing, and two survived.
A 2-year-old was among the victims, CNN reported, citing U.S. Coast Guard officials. Mexico’s Navy said four people on board were Mexican Navy officers and four were civilians, including a child, according to a statement shared with the Associated Press.
The aircraft was conducting a medical mission for the Michou y Mau Foundation, which helps Mexican children with severe burns, the BBC reported. The outlet added that the crash happened in foggy conditions.
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The foundation later shared a message of support on social media.
“At Michou and Mau Foundation, we express our deep solidarity with the families in the wake of the events,” a translated Facebook post said.
“We accompany their pain with respect and closeness, honoring the memory and reaffirming our commitment to human, sensitive and dignified care for girls and boys with burns,” the organization added.
The plane was last recorded at 3:01 p.m. local time over Galveston Bay near Scholes International Airport, the BBC reported, citing flight-tracking data from Flight Radar.
Professional yacht captain Sky Decker told the Associated Press he lives about a mile from where the plane went down and launched his boat to help. He said he picked up two police officers who then guided him through dense fog toward the wreckage, which was nearly fully submerged.
