Mexican Navy Medical Flight Crashes Near Galveston, Killing At Least Five

A small Mexican Navy aircraft on a medical transport mission crashed Monday afternoon in Galveston Bay, killing at least five of the eight people on board and prompting a large-scale search and recovery operation along the Texas coast.

According to Mexico’s Navy, the aircraft was carrying four Navy officers and four civilians, including a child. Two of the civilians were members of the Michou and Mau Foundation, a nonprofit that helps transport Mexican children with severe burns to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston for treatment.

The crash occurred near the base of the causeway connecting Galveston Island to the mainland, roughly 50 miles southeast of Houston. Emergency responders quickly converged on the scene, including the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office dive team, drone unit, crime scene investigators, and patrol units.

U.S. Coast Guard officials confirmed multiple fatalities but did not release the identities of the victims. Mexico’s Navy described the incident as an accident that occurred during the aircraft’s approach to Galveston.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are gathering information at the site. Weather conditions may be a factor, as fog moved into the area around 2:30 p.m., reducing visibility to roughly half a mile, according to the National Weather Service.

Mexico’s Marines issued a statement offering condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the mission.