Two pilots were killed Sunday when their executive jet crashed while attempting to return to La Romana International Airport in the Dominican Republic, authorities said. The aircraft had just taken off on a flight bound for Austin, Texas, where it was scheduled to pick up former MLB star Yadier Molina and his family.
Background
The U.S.-registered aircraft, operated by an American aviation company, departed La Romana with no passengers aboard. According to the Dominican Institute for Civil Aviation, the plane's destination was Austin, where it was expected to collect Molina and his family before returning them to Puerto Rico. A few minutes after takeoff, the pilots declared an in-flight emergency and turned the aircraft back toward La Romana Airport.
Video of the incident posted to social media shows the jet skidding along the runway during its landing attempt. The nose of the plane can be seen buckling upward as it contacts the ground. When the aircraft's nose falls back toward the runway surface, the plane catches fire and is engulfed in flames within seconds. The aircraft involved was a GALX model with tail number N318JF.
The Investigation
La Romana International Airport identified the victims as pilot Erick Javier Diago and co-pilot Ruddy Ghaza. Both crew members perished in the accident. The Dominican Institute for Civil Aviation confirmed that the plane declared an emergency when it was approximately 16 nautical miles southwest of La Romana. "The aircraft crashed while attempting to land back at La Romana Airport, veering off the runway," the airport said in a statement. "Tragically, both occupants lost their lives."
Molina, who spent most of his career as a catcher with the St. Louis Cardinals and retired after a final season with the New York Yankees, posted a series of Instagram stories addressing the tragedy. "My condolences to the pilots and their families," Molina wrote according to People magazine. "This plane was on its way to pick up me, my family, and friends in Texas to return to Puerto Rico. This is all so heartbreaking."
The Dominican Institute for Civil Aviation and the Investigative Commission for Aviation Accidents have opened investigations into the crash. Authorities said additional information will be released as the investigation continues.
Key Takeaways
- Pilot Erick Javier Diago and co-pilot Ruddy Ghaza were both killed in the crash Sunday at La Romana International Airport
- The aircraft was traveling to Austin, Texas, to pick up former MLB star Yadier Molina and his family before returning to Puerto Rico
- No passengers were aboard the flight; only the two crew members were present when the plane crashed during its emergency landing attempt
- The U.S.-registered aircraft, a GALX model with tail number N318JF, caught fire after veering off the runway
What's Next
Investigators from the Dominican Institute for Civil Aviation and the Investigative Commission for Aviation Accidents are examining the crash site and flight data to determine what caused the aircraft to crash. Authorities have not yet released a timeline for when preliminary findings might be available.