2-Year-Old Among 5 Killed in Medical Transport Plane Crash

A tragic plane crash in Galveston Bay, Texas, on Monday afternoon has claimed the lives of at least five people, including a 2-year-old child, according to U.S. Coast Guard officials. The crash involved a Mexican Navy plane carrying medical patients, and it is still under investigation.

The aircraft, a small twin-turbo plane, was carrying eight people: four Mexican Navy crew members and four civilians. The plane had been transporting burn victims as part of a medical mission coordinated with the Michou and Mau Foundation, which arranges emergency airlifts for children with life-threatening burns to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston. The flight originated from Mérida, Mexico, and was headed to Galveston Scholes International Airport, about 50 miles southeast of Houston.

Sadly, the crash resulted in a devastating loss of life, with a 2-year-old child among the fatalities. Two survivors were pulled from the wreckage, though their conditions remain undisclosed. One person is still missing, and the search for them continues.

Sky Decker, a local resident who witnessed the crash, acted quickly to assist in the rescue efforts before divers could arrive. He described how he waded through the wreckage and managed to pull a woman to safety. She had been surviving in a small pocket of air inside the plane. Decker later found a deceased man in the debris. His heroic actions were critical, as the wreckage was nearly submerged, and the woman might not have survived much longer without help.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Coast Guard and other authorities. Initial reports indicate that the aircraft experienced an “incident” during its approach to Galveston, though no further details have been released. Local witnesses reported dense fog conditions at the time of the crash, which could have contributed to the accident. Billy Howell, an employee at Galveston Bait and Tackle, described the fog as so thick that visibility was near zero.

A dive team, crime scene unit, and drone units were deployed to the crash site, which was first reported around 3:17 p.m. on Monday. Despite the wreckage being mostly submerged, Decker noted that it appeared to be nearly impossible for anyone to have survived, given the conditions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are assisting with the investigation into the cause of the crash. Mexico’s Navy has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and confirmed that they are working closely with the Mexican Consulate in Houston.

In a statement, the Michou and Mau Foundation also expressed their sorrow, saying, “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.”