Authorities Identify Victims in Galveston Bay Military Aircraft Accident
Mexican authorities confirmed the identities of those who lost their lives after a Mexican Navy medical aircraft crashed into Galveston Bay while carrying a critically injured burn patient on a humanitarian mission.
The Secretariat of the Navy of Mexico (SEMAR) stated that the King Air aircraft, identified as ANX-1209 and operated by the Mexican Navy, went down on Monday while traveling from Mexico to Galveston, Texas.
According to SEMAR, the flight was part of a medical evacuation carried out under Plan Marina, in coordination with the Michou and Mau Foundation, an organization dedicated to transporting children with severe burn injuries so they can receive specialized medical treatment.
Following the crash, multiple U.S. and local agencies responded to the scene, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities reported a significant law enforcement and first-responder presence near the base of the Interstate 45 Causeway as search, rescue, and recovery efforts were conducted in the surrounding area.
SEMAR confirmed that eight individuals were aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident, including four members of the Mexican Navy crew and four civilians.
Officials stated that five people have been confirmed deceased, one individual remains missing and is presumed deceased, and two people survived the crash and are currently receiving medical treatment.
The confirmed fatalities among Mexican Navy personnel were identified as Lieutenant A.N. P.A. Víctor Rafael Pérez Hernández, Lieutenant S.S.N. Juan Iván Zaragoza Flores, and Marinero A.N. E. Av. Guadalupe Flores Barranco.
Lieutenant A.N. P.A. Luis Enrique Castillo Terrones remains missing, and although his body has not been recovered, SEMAR said that based on the circumstances, he is presumed deceased.
The civilian victims who lost their lives were identified as Federico Efraín Ramírez Cruz, a pediatric burn patient, and Dr. Juan Alfonso Adame González, the physician who was accompanying the child during the medical transport.
The two survivors were identified as Julia Aracelis Cruz Vera, who was accompanying the patient, and Miriam de Jesús Rosas Mancilla, a nurse assigned to the mission.
In an official statement, the Mexican Navy emphasized that the aircraft was conducting a humanitarian medical support mission at the time of the crash, highlighting the challenges and risks associated with emergency medical evacuations.
The death of Dr. Juan Alfonso Adame González has prompted an outpouring of grief in his hometown of Tomatlán, Jalisco. Residents, colleagues, and local leaders described him as a devoted physician who dedicated his career to humanitarian service.
Dr. Adame González was escorting a severely burned child to Shriners Hospital in Galveston when the crash occurred. Community tributes described him as a courageous and selfless individual who devoted his life to helping others.
Family members, friends, and colleagues remembered him for his compassion, professionalism, and strong sense of duty, noting that his commitment to service was evident throughout his life and medical career.
SEMAR and the Michou and Mau Foundation also released statements expressing their condolences and honoring those who lost their lives, while reaffirming the importance of humanitarian missions that provide lifesaving care to children with severe burn injuries.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, with Mexican and U.S. authorities working together to determine the circumstances that led to the incident.
Condolences continue to be shared with the families of all those affected, as well as with the community of Tomatlán, which continues to mourn the loss of a physician remembered for his dedication to service and care for vulnerable children.
