A private jet has crashed in central Mexico, killing all ten people on board after the pilot attempted an emergency landing on a football pitch. The tragic incident occurred on Monday in the municipality of San Mateo Atenco.
Flight in distress and fatal impact
The small aircraft had taken off from Toluca Airport, located roughly 31 miles west of Mexico City, after an earlier departure from Acapulco. It quickly began experiencing technical issues, forcing the crew to look for an emergency landing site.
The pilot targeted a local football field but failed to reach it. The jet instead struck the metal roof of a nearby warehouse, which was being used to store fuel and gas tanks. The impact immediately sparked a massive fire.
Civil protection coordinator Adrian Hernandez confirmed the accident happened shortly after takeoff. The plane was carrying eight passengers and two crew members. Initially, only seven bodies were recovered, but all ten victims have now been accounted for. Authorities believe three of those killed were children.
Eyewitness describes terrifying scene
Local resident Octavio Contreras provided a harrowing account of the final moments. He described the aircraft spinning uncontrollably "like when a fan breaks loose" before a deafening explosion.
"Then we heard the explosion, the truck even moved, and then we saw smoke coming out," Contreras said. Miraculously, no one on the ground was injured in the crash or subsequent fireball.
Investigation launched and recent tragedy recalled
Mexican authorities have opened a full investigation into the causes of the deadly crash. This incident follows another recent aviation tragedy in the country.
In September, popular Mexican news presenter Debora Estrella, 43, was killed alongside pilot Bryan Ballesteros during her first flying lesson. Their two-seater Cessna plane plummeted to the ground near an industrial estate in Garcia, Nuevo Leon.
Estrella had posted a photo of the aircraft on Instagram before takeoff with the cryptic caption "Guess what". Her ex-husband, also a journalist, learned of her death after posting about the accident on social media, unaware she was involved.
