The search for a single missing individual continues in Galveston Bay following the devastating crash of a Mexican Navy aircraft on a medical transport mission. The Beechcraft King Air 350i, carrying a pediatric burn patient and her entourage, crashed near the Galveston Causeway in heavy fog, claiming at least five lives. Eight people were confirmed on board the flight. As of Tuesday morning, five bodies have been recovered. Two individuals are receiving medical attention, while the fate of the eighth occupant remains unknown.
This flight was a crucial humanitarian endeavor to bring a young patient to Galveston for advanced medical treatment. The passengers consisted of four Mexican Navy personnel, including two pilots, and four civilians. The civilian contingent included the infant patient, reportedly a one-year-old with severe burns, and two members of the Michou and Mau Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to burn victims.
The incident took place around 3:15 PM. A coordinated search and rescue effort involves the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office dive teams and the U.S. Coast Guard. Federal investigators from the FAA and NTSB have arrived to meticulously examine the crash site and determine the cause. Authorities have issued a plea for the public to avoid the causeway area to allow emergency crews unimpeded access. The prevailing weather, characterized by a dense fog that significantly obscured visibility, is a key element under investigation.