Mexico: Five Dead in Military Medical Transport Plane Crash (Updated Toll)

The death toll has risen to five following the crash of a small Mexican Navy aircraft that was carrying out a medical transport mission to the U.S. state of Texas, the institution announced on Tuesday.

The accident occurred at sea as the aircraft, which had been chartered by a Mexican foundation that assists severely burned children, was approaching Galveston, near Houston, Texas.

Of the eight people on board the aircraft, five have died and two are still alive, the Mexican Navy said, having previously reported two fatalities.

One person remains “unaccounted for,” while search operations conducted by the United States Coast Guard are ongoing, the institution added.

An earlier toll had reported at least two deaths in the accident.

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its regret over the accident and conveyed its support to the victims’ families on social media.

According to the Flight Radar website, the aircraft took off from Mérida airport in the Mexican state of Yucatán (southeast). Its signal was lost over Galveston Bay, near Scholes International Airport. (APS)