A small Mexican Navy plane crashed Monday near Galveston, Texas, carrying a young medical patient and 7 other people. According to officials, at least 5 people died in the accident.
The Mexican Navy said in a statement that four Navy officers and four civilians, including a child, were on board. It is not yet clear why the US Coast Guard has confirmed the deaths. The two people on the plane were members of the Michou and Mau Foundation, which provides aid to Mexican children suffering from severe burns.
The accident happened Monday afternoon near a causeway near Galveston. This area is located approximately 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) southeast of Houston. The cause of the incident is being investigated.
The Mexican Navy said the plane was assisting in a medical mission and had “accidented”. The Navy promised to investigate the cause of the crash and is assisting with search and rescue operations with local authorities.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said that teams from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have arrived at the scene. An NTSB spokesman said they were “continuing to gather information about this accident.”
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office said its dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit and patrol team were responding to the crash scene. The public has been urged not to enter the area so that rescuers can operate safely.
Galveston is a popular beach destination and the area has seen foggy weather conditions in recent days. National Weather Service meteorologist Cameron Batiste said visibility was about half a mile due to fog as of about 2:30 p.m. Monday.