On Monday, December 15, a small plane crashed in central Mexico while attempting an emergency landing, triggering a large fire upon impact with the ground and resulting in at least 7 fatalities. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.
According to various media reports, the crash occurred at midday on Monday in an industrial area located just 5 kilometers away from the Toluca airport near the capital city of Mexico City.
The small plane had taken off that day from the coastal port city of Acapulco on the Pacific coast of Mexico, heading towards the Toluca International Airport in the central part of the country.
Mexican civil defense department official, Adrián Hernández, stated in an interview with local media that the private plane was registered with 8 passengers and 2 crew members. However, hours after the crash, only 7 bodies had been recovered, and no survivors from the plane have been found yet.
Hernández mentioned that the small plane appeared to be attempting an emergency landing on a soccer field near the Toluca airport but tragically collided with the metal roof of an industrial warehouse, leading to an explosion and subsequent fire.
Currently, the fire has been brought under control, and emergency rescue personnel, along with state government officials, are still on-site conducting emergency search and rescue operations and assessing the extent of the damage.
A local official stated that the fire forced approximately 130 people in the area to evacuate.
Preliminary investigation reports suggest that engine failure might have been the reason for the plane crash, but the specific accident investigation is still ongoing.