A preliminary NTSB report on the December 2025 Galveston Bay plane crash cites heavy fog and communication errors between the flight crew and air traffic control. The Mexican Navy aircraft went down short of Scholes International Airport, resulting in six deaths and two injuries.
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A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board reveals that low visibility and miscommunication between pilots and air traffic control were contributing factors in the December 2025 crash of a Mexican Navy aircraft into Galveston Bay.
A twin-engine aircraft was transporting eight individuals on a medical support mission for the Michou y Mau Foundation, an organization dedicated to aiding pediatric burn patients. An aircraft that took off from Mérida, Mexico, encountered difficulties while attempting to land at Scholes International Airport, resulting in a tragic incident that claimed the lives of six individuals and left two others injured.
The NTSB report reveals that Houston Approach Control informed the flight crew of a 300-foot airport ceiling, indicating severely restricted visibility. Controllers asked whether the crew wished to proceed with the approach, and the crew affirmed their intention to continue.
Numerous witnesses reported that dense fog enveloped the area during the time of the accident.
Authorities have pinpointed two significant communication challenges. During a recent communication, the air traffic controller directed the flight crew to sustain an altitude of 2,000 feet. The report indicates that the crew confirmed an altitude of 23,000 feet.
As the aircraft approached its final moments, air traffic control granted clearance for the flight to proceed toward the airport. The crew seemed to take that as authorization to proceed with the landing. The controller confirmed twice that the aircraft's clearance was solely for approach.
The controller then directed the crew to contact the tower. In the aftermath, several low-altitude alerts were promptly issued. Authorities reported that no additional radio communication was obtained from the aircraft.
Flight data indicates that the aircraft descended to an altitude of 275 feet above mean sea level while remaining about three miles from the runway. At that juncture, communication was severed.
A witness described hearing the engine “pull back,” followed by a surge to full power, suggesting a potential go-around attempt, before the sound suddenly ceased. Local boaters reported a brief sighting of the aircraft prior to hearing what appeared to be its impact with the water.
The National Transportation Safety Board has underscored the possibility of revising the initial findings as the investigation progresses. The National Transportation Safety Board has not provided a timeline for releasing the final report.
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