A private charter jet crashed in central Mexico on Monday, resulting in the tragic loss of at least seven lives as the pilot attempted an emergency landing near Toluca. The aircraft had departed from Acapulco before encountering difficulties.
The Cessna Citation III jet, operating under registration XA-PRO, crashed into an industrial warehouse in San Pedro Totoltepec, State of Mexico, creating a dramatic scene with thick black smoke billowing into the air. The crash site is located in an industrial area approximately 5 kilometers from Toluca Airport.
According to Mexico State Civil Protection Coordinator Adrián Hernández, the plane carried a total of eight passengers and two crew members. Recovery efforts have so far yielded seven bodies, with the search ongoing for others on board. Preliminary investigations suggest the pilot was actively trying to execute an emergency landing.
Eyewitness accounts and initial reports indicate the plane may have been aiming for a football field but tragically struck the metallic roof of an adjacent office building, igniting a fierce fire. The blaze necessitated the evacuation of about 130 people from the immediate industrial zone for their safety.
Response teams quickly arrived at the scene to manage the fire and secure the area. Investigations are actively underway to determine the precise reasons for the emergency landing attempt and the factors that led to the fatal crash.