Mexican navy plane crashes near Galveston, Texas on medical mission; at least 3 dead

A small Mexican navy plane crashed Monday afternoon near Galveston, Texas, killing at least three people during a medical support mission, authorities said.

The twin-engine King Air aircraft, carrying eight people total, went down around 3:17 p.m. local time west of the Galveston Causeway in Galveston Bay as it approached Scholes International Airport on the outskirts of the city. The U.S. Coast Guard received a report of the crash at 3:20 p.m. and launched a boat and helicopter to search for the aircraft.

Four people were rescued from the crash, according to Mexico's navy. Two people remained unaccounted for inside the aircraft at the time of initial reports, though the U.S. Coast Guard later confirmed three people dead.

The aircraft was on a medical support mission in coordination with the Michou y Mau Foundation, a nonprofit organization that transfers pediatric burn patients from Mexico to Shriners Hospital in Galveston. Among those aboard was a child with burn injuries, along with three other civilians and four Mexican navy officers.

The crash occurred amid dense fog over Galveston Bay waters, according to Mexican authorities. Mexico's navy said the plane "experienced an accident" but did not immediately disclose the cause of the crash. The Mexican navy stated it would investigate the incident.

The Galveston County Sheriff's Office urged the public to avoid the area as emergency responders continued operations at the scene. The sheriff's office deployed its Dive Team, Crime Scene Unit, Drone Unit, and Patrol to assist with the response.

The aircraft, a twin-engine King Air model ANX 1209, had departed from an international airport in Mexico before the crash. Mexico's navy did not specify which individuals had been rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.