Officials are now searching waters off the Texas coast as authorities confirmed four Navy officers and four civilians were aboard
A small plane from Mexico, carrying a young medical patient and seven others, has crashed near Galveston, Texas, resulting in at least five fatalities.
The incident occurred on Monday, December 22 and investigations are currently underway off the Texas coast.
The Mexican Navy confirmed that the eight people on board comprised four Navy officers and four civilians, including a child. However, it remains unclear who among them perished in the crash, reports the Mirror..
Two passengers were associated with the Michou and Mau Foundation, a charity dedicated to assisting Mexican children who have suffered severe burns. The US Coast Guard has verified that five individuals lost their lives in the crash, and an investigation into the cause is ongoing.
The crash took place on Monday afternoon near the base of a causeway close to Galveston, along the Texas coast approximately 50 miles (80.5 kilometres) southeast of Houston. In a statement, the Mexican Navy revealed that the plane was on a medical mission when the “accident” occurred.
They added that they are aiding local authorities with search and rescue operations.
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office reported that its dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit and patrol are responding to the crash. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are also present at the scene.
The Sheriff’s office stated: “The incident remains under investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
The well-liked seaside spot has been dealing with foggy conditions in recent days, and it remains uncertain whether this played a part. A meteorologist from the National Weather Service noted that around 2:30 pm on Monday, a fog rolled in reducing visibility to about half a mile.
The foggy weather is anticipated to continue until Tuesday morning.
