Source TOI
GALVESTON, Texas – A humanitarian mission ended in tragedy on Monday afternoon when a Mexican Navy aircraft transporting a young burn patient crashed into the foggy waters of Galveston Bay. Officials have confirmed that at least five people were killed, including a 2-year-old child who was being rushed to a Texas hospital for specialized care.
The Incident
The aircraft, a twin-engine Beechcraft Super King Air 350 (registration ANX-1209), was on a medical transport flight from Mérida, Mexico, to Scholes International Airport in Galveston. The crash occurred around 3:15 p.m. local time near the base of the Galveston Causeway, just two miles from its intended destination.
Witnesses and emergency responders reported dense sea fog and extremely limited visibility at the time of the approach. The plane went down in relatively shallow water—roughly five to six feet deep—near Channel Marker 6.
Casualties and Survivors
There were eight people on board the flight: four Mexican Navy crew members and four civilians. According to the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR), the toll stands as follows:
Deceased: Five people have been confirmed dead. Among them are Lieutenant Víctor Rafael Pérez Hernández, Lieutenant Juan Iván Zaragoza Flores, and Marinero Guadalupe Flores Barranco. The civilian fatalities include the patient, Federico Efraín Ramírez Cruz, and a doctor, Juan Alfonso Adame González.
The Child: Reports from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that a 2-year-old pediatric burn patient was among those who lost their lives.
Survivors: Two women survived the crash—a nurse and a companion of the patient. One of the survivors, a 27-year-old woman, was reportedly rescued without major injuries, while the other was taken to UTMB Health’s John Sealy Hospital in critical condition.
Missing: As of Tuesday morning, one individual remains unaccounted for, though authorities have indicated they are presumed deceased given the circumstances.
A Mission of Mercy
The flight was part of a long-standing humanitarian effort by the Michou and Mau Foundation, a Mexican nonprofit that coordinates emergency transfers for children with severe burns. The patient was being transported to Shriners Children’s Texas in Galveston, a world-renowned facility for pediatric burn treatment.
“It is with profound sadness that we learned of a child involved in a plane crash while being transported for burn care,” Shriners Children’s Texas said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the families affected by this tragedy.”
Ongoing Investigation
The recovery effort involved a massive multi-agency response, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, and local dive teams. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched a joint investigation alongside Mexican authorities to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Investigators are expected to focus on the heavy fog and potential mechanical issues during the
final approach.
