A tragic incident occurred in Mexico when a plane crashed, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals, including three young children all under the age of 10. The children, believed to be from the same family, were a boy aged four and two girls aged nine and two. Alongside them, five adult passengers and two pilots lost their lives when the private aircraft collided with a warehouse near Mexico’s Toluca Airport. The crash took place around 12:30 pm local time, with reports suggesting the pilot was attempting to land on a football field.
Following the crash, hundreds of people in the vicinity had to be evacuated due to a fire that broke out nearby. The tragic event unfolded in San Mateo Atenco, an industrial zone located approximately three miles from Toluca airport, about 31 miles west of Mexico City. The ill-fated flight had originated from Acapulco on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Initially, local reports mentioned six bodies found within the plane wreckage, but the confirmed death toll later rose to 10. Authorities are currently investigating the incident, focusing on a possible engine malfunction as the cause. The final exchange between the pilot and air traffic controllers indicated distress, with the pilot reportedly stating, “We’re crashing.”
JetPro, the company responsible for the air taxi service, which operates a fleet comprising 11 jets and four helicopters, has refrained from providing any comments at present.
Contrary to initial reports, Servicios Aereos Estrella, another aviation company, clarified that the aircraft involved did not belong to them nor was it operated by them. They expressed deep regret over the tragic accident and extended sympathies to those affected.
The victims of the crash have been identified, including the pilot, Juan Carlos Olivares Casas, and co-pilot, Walding Sanchez Manzano. Among the adult passengers who lost their lives were Raul Gomez Ruiz, 60; Olga Janine Buenfil Cardone, 60; Gustavo Palomino Olet, 50; Ilse Lizeth Hernandez Tellez, 32; and Raul Gomez Buenfil, 31. The children who perished have only been identified by their first names – Raul, Natalia, and Ximena, aged four, two, and nine respectively. San Mateo Atenco Mayor Ana Muñiz reported that around 130 individuals had to be evacuated due to the fire caused by the crash.