Galveston Bay Plane Crash: Search for Missing Navy Lieutenant Continues Amidst Wreckage Recovery

Galveston Bay Plane Crash Overview

• ✈️ A medical transport plane originating from Mérida, Mexico, crashed in Galveston's West Bay.
• 💔 The crash resulted in five fatalities, with two survivors rescued.
• ⚠️ A Mexican Navy lieutenant remains missing, and search efforts are ongoing.

Recovery and Investigation Efforts

• 🚢 A barge and crane have been brought to the crash site to aid in recovering the aircraft wreckage.
• 🔍 The NTSB has begun its investigation, with the initial phase focused on retrieving the plane from the bay, a process that could take over a week.
• 🌊 The aircraft, a Mexican Navy Beach King Air 350i, was found in shallow water, estimated to be between 4 and 8 feet deep.

Circumstances of the Crash

• 🌫️ Witnesses reported the crash occurred around 3:15 PM yesterday in dense fog.
• 🔊 One witness described hearing the crash as muffled, with the fog carrying the sound across the water.
• 👶 The plane was transporting a 2-year-old burn patient to Shriner's Children's hospital; the child was among those who perished.

Community Response and Tributes

• 😔 Tributes have been posted on social media, particularly from individuals in Mexico, honoring those who died.
• 📸 Reports mention a doctor who may have taken a selfie on board before the crash, adding to the gravity of the situation.
• 💔 The incident is described as particularly devastating, especially given its occurrence near the Christmas season.