A Mexican Navy plane crashed in Galveston Bay, Texas, during a medical support mission, resulting in at least three deaths. The aircraft was carrying burn patients, including a child, with eight people on board. Rescue teams recovered survivors, but searches continue for one missing person.
On Monday, December 22, 2025, a Mexican Navy (Semar) plane crashed in Galveston Bay, Texas, United States, while approaching Scholes International Airport. The aircraft was on a medical support mission coordinated with the Fundación Michou y Mau, which specializes in transporting children with burns to specialized hospitals in the US. The flight had departed from Mérida, capital of Yucatán, Mexico.
Eight people were on board, including two pilots and burn patients, with at least one child among them. Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen reported that rescue teams pulled at least two survivors from the water, who were taken for medical treatment. As of the latest update, there were three confirmed deaths and one missing person, with search operations ongoing.
Semar confirmed in a statement that the aircraft was not involved in any military operation and that the incident happened during the approach phase. The US Coast Guard received the call around 3:15 p.m. local time and deployed teams west of the Galveston bridge. Galveston County activated divers, drones, and forensics experts to locate the wreckage.
The area was experiencing heavy fog at the time of the crash, which may have complicated operations, though there is no confirmation of weather's role in the cause. The Texas Department of Public Safety is monitoring the case, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will lead the technical investigation. Authorities asked the public to avoid the area to not interfere with emergency efforts.