A Mexican military medical aircraft carrying eight people crashed into West Galveston Bay on Monday afternoon while approaching Scholes International Airport amid heavy fog, according to local officials.
The plane was transporting two pilots and six passengers, including a pediatric patient believed to be en route to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Galveston for burn treatment.
City officials said the aircraft went down during its landing approach in waters west of the Galveston Causeway, prompting a large-scale emergency response across air and marine units.
BREAKING: At least 3 people killed after Mexican military medical plane crashes into water near Galveston, Texas. – BNO pic.twitter.com/igKGLZFeRI
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) December 22, 2025
Crash Occurs During Landing Approach
Officials said the aircraft was in the process of landing when it crashed into the bay near Channel Marker 6. The incident occurred in foggy conditions that limited visibility as the plane approached the airport.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed it received a report of the crash at approximately 3:20 p.m. and quickly deployed boats and a helicopter to the scene.
Multiple Agencies Lead Search and Rescue
Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen confirmed that his department deployed boats and dive teams to assist in the response. However, he noted that the Galveston Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety are overseeing the overall emergency operation.
Additional responding agencies included the Galveston Fire Department, local marine units, and federal partners, all coordinating rescue and recovery efforts across the bay.
Victims Transported to Hospital
Emergency crews reported that four ambulances transported injured victims to John Sealy Hospital at UTMB. Scanner traffic indicated that one of the injured was a juvenile.
Reports from the scene said a woman was conscious with a compound fracture to her leg, a man was receiving CPR, and another victim was being extracted from the aircraft during rescue operations. Officials confirmed multiple victims sustained injuries.
Cause of Crash Under Investigation
Authorities have not yet released the cause of the crash. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as responders continue to work in surrounding bay waters.
Officials said further updates will be released as more information becomes available.
