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Young siblings among 10 killed after ‘out of control’ Mexico plane crash
The Cessna Citation III private jet crashed into a warehouse on an industrial estate near Mexico's Toluca Airport
By Kelly Williams, Natalia Penza, John O'Sullivan
This is the terrifying moment an uncontrolled
aircraft plummets toward the earth in a catastrophic crash that killed 10 people, including three children. The young casualties, thought to be from one family, were a four-year-old boy and two girls aged nine and two.
Five adult passengers also perished along with two pilots when the private aircraft slammed into a warehouse on an industrial complex near Mexico's Toluca Airport, around 12.30 pm local time yesterday (December 12). The Cessna Citation III private jet had taken off from the famous Pacific resort of Acapulco just half an hour earlier.
Early local reports suggested six bodies had been pulled from the debris before the confirmed death toll climbed to 10. An investigation into the incident is currently in progress, with investigators reportedly examining the possibility that an engine malfunction was to blame, as the final exchange between the pilot and air traffic controllers surfaced in which he could be heard saying: "We're crashing."
JetPro, the firm running the air taxi operation which operates a fleet of 11 jets and four helicopters, has not yet issued a statement.
Servicios Aereos Estrella, the company mistakenly
identified initially as the private jet operator, said in a statement: "We deeply regret the accident that occurred and accompany with respect and solidarity the people and families affected by this terrible event, wishing them strength in these difficult moments. We would also like to inform you that the aircraft involved doesn't belong to Servicios Aereos E."
The pilot was identified locally as Juan Carlos Olivares Casas and his co-pilot as Walding Sanchez Manzano. The adult passengers who tragically died were Raul Gomez Ruiz, 60; Olga Janine Buenfil Cardone, 60; Gustavo Palomino Olet, 50; Ilse Lizeth Hernandez Tellez, 32; and Raul Gomez Buenfil, 31.
The children who perished have only been identified so far by their first names - Raul, four, Natalia, two, and Ximena, nine.
Disturbing images showed massive plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky after the private jet went down.
Cristobal Castaneda, Minister of Public Security for the State of Mexico which Toluca is part of, stated: "Two blocks around the premises the plane crashed into had to be evacuated because of the fuel and gas tanks inside. The evacuation was carried out as a precautionary measure."
Video from the scene showed that the Cessna had struck a soccer field near a children's playground before slamming into a warehouse, leaving a massive hole in its wall with flames shooting out which had to be put out by firefighters.
Remarkably, no one was inside the building at the time, with local reports indicating employees had been given the day off. Toluca Airport, just five miles from the crash site, was the intended destination of the doomed flight. Pilot Juan Carlos Olivares Casas was aged 61 and his co-pilot 72.
The passengers who were killed are believed to have been officially identified by Mexican authorities, who withheld the last names of the children to safeguard their full identities.
https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/193562/plane-spirals-out-control-before-crash-killed-10-including-children
Plane crashes in Northern California, pilot hurt amid emergency landing and fuel leak
by: Veronica Catlin
(FOX40.COM) — Several emergency crews are
responding to a plane crash that happened in Northern California on Monday afternoon.
Around 3:20 p.m., the Tracy Fire Department in San Joaquin County received a call about a plane crash near Linne and Chrisman Roads. When crews arrived at the scene, they found a plane with its nose in an irrigation ditch. The only person on board the plane was its pilot.
Officials said the pilot was able to crash-land the aircraft safely into the ditch. As of 6:09 p.m., the fire department, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, and Environmental Health remain at the scene for a small fuel leak that stemmed from the crash.
No road closures have have been reported. However, officials advised the public to avoid the area.
NTSB Final Report: Bell OH-58A
...The Dynamic Rollover Was Likely Caused By The Front Seat Passenger Inadvertently Contacting The Cyclic Control While Turning To Speak With The Rear Seat Passenger
Location: Caseville, Michigan Accident Number: CEN25LA337
Date & Time: August 23, 2025, 11:15 Local Registration: N707EE
Aircraft: Bell OH-58A Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Dynamic rollover Injuries: 1 Minor, 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis: The pilot reported that while on a local flight he noticed a squall line approaching and elected to return to the private strip from which he had departed. During the approach, rain intensity increased, and the wind began gusting to about 15 knots. The pilot landed the helicopter, lowered the collective, and reduced power. While the main rotor was turning about 420 rpm, the helicopter suddenly rolled over onto its right side, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor system and fuselage.
The pilot reported that the dynamic rollover was likely caused by the front seat passenger inadvertently contacting the cyclic control while turning to speak with the rear seat passenger. The OH-58A flight manual notes that when carrying non-rated passengers unfamiliar with helicopter operation, the pilot should evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of stowing the copilot controls or accepting the potential hazard of leaving them installed. The Federal Aviation Administration Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21B) states, “If possible, remove front passenger flight controls and ensure all passenger personal items, such as cameras and mobile phones, are secure.”
Bell Helicopter Operational Safety Notice GEN-20-50 advises that pilots emphasize avoidance of flight and engine controls during preflight briefings, especially when dual controls are installed, and further notes that removing the dual controls, if installed, remains an option to prevent inadvertent interference. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The front seat passenger’s inadvertent movement of the cyclic control resulting in a dynamic rollover after landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to leave the dual
flight controls installed with a non-pilot passenger in the front seat.
FMI: www.ntsb.gov
Today in History
24 Years ago today: On 16 December 2001 A Heliandes Let L-410 impacted a mountain while on a flight from Medellín to Quibdó, Colombia, killing all 16 occupants.
| Date: | Sunday 16 December 2001 |
| Time: | 10:25 |
| Type: | Let L-410UVP-E |
| Owner/operator: | Heliandes |
| Registration: | HK-4175X |
| MSN: | 861618 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1986 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 1863 hours |
| Engine model: | Walter M-601E |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 16 / Occupants: 16 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near San Antonio de Prado - Colombia |
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | MedellÃn-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH/SKMD) |
| Destination airport: | Quibdó-El Caraño Airport (UIB/SKUI) |
| Investigating agency: | Aerocivil |
| Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:
A Heliandes Let L-410 impacted a mountain while on a flight from MedellÃn to Quibdó, Colombia, killing all 16 occupants.
The crew of the Let 410 attempted a VFR departure from MedellÃn in poor weather conditions (heavy rainfall and heavy winds). The flight took off from runway 01, immediately commencing a right hand turn. The crew continued the turn past the course it should have flown. A few minutes after takeoff the airplane flew into the side of Cerro El Silencio at a height of 9200 feet (2815 metres). Medellin airfield elevation is 4940 feet (1512 metres).
