A recent tragedy off the Texas coast has left many questions in its wake after a small Mexican Navy plane, carrying a young medical patient and seven others, crashed in thick fog. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft for about 10 minutes before it went down on Monday afternoon, killing at least five people. Two survivors were pulled from the wreckage, with one person still missing.
Initially, authorities believed the plane had landed safely in Galveston, near Houston. However, the grim reality soon emerged. The Beech King Air 350i twin turboprop was on a vital mission, transporting a child with severe burns to a specialized hospital, in collaboration with the Michou and Mau Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping burn victims.
Investigators are now piecing together what went wrong. Radar data suggests the plane descended “far too low” as it approached Sholes International Airport in Galveston. Compounding the challenge, a crucial navigation system for the runway, which helps pilots land in poor visibility, had been out of service for about a week. With visibility estimated at just half a mile due to dense fog, experts suggest the pilot should have aborted the landing. A former crash investigator noted the rapid descent well below safe altitude, leading to speculation of a mechanical malfunction or a pilot’s high motivation to land given the patient’s critical condition.
Local hero Sky Decker, a yacht captain, recounted navigating the treacherous fog to the crash site, rescuing a woman trapped in the submerged plane. The NTSB and FAA are thoroughly investigating, reviewing all records and communications, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days. This incident adds to a year of heightened focus on aviation safety, reminding us of the complexities and risks, even as overall air travel remains remarkably safe.
Source: https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/international/2025/12/24/fes4-us-texas-crash-communication.html
