Photo: MARIO VAZQUEZ / AFP / Getty Images
Ten people, including three children, died when a private jet crashed while attempting an emergency landing in San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, on Monday (December 15). The plane, a Cessna Citation III, had departed from Acapulco and was en route to Toluca International Airport when it encountered difficulties.
According to The Associated Press, the jet tried to land on a soccer field but instead struck a warehouse, causing a massive fire.
Local resident Octavio Contreras described the scene, telling the news agency, "It spun around like when a fan breaks loose," before the explosion occurred. Emergency responders from Toluca, Metepec, and San Mateo Atenco worked to extinguish the blaze and secure the site.
The warehouse stored fuel and gas tanks, prompting the evacuation of approximately 130 people from the area.
The Mexico State Civil Protection officials confirmed the deaths of all 10 individuals on board, which included eight passengers and two crew members. The Attorney General's Office has launched an investigation into the crash, with assistance from the Federal Agency of Civil Aviation and other relevant bodies.
The incident has shocked the local community, and authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash.