Mexico’s Defense Ministry said it is looking into what caused the crash of an Air Force Learjet 45 at El Lencero International Airport in Veracruz on Sunday
The jet had arrived from Mexico City International Airport at 9am and took off at 9:45am but it failed to gain altitude and crashed at the end of the runway
The aircraft landed in a farm, where it exploded, killing at least six servicemen
The victims were identified as Second Captain Aldo Rivas; Lieutenants Germán Flores, Juan Villalpando and Gumaro Acosta
First Captain Gustavo Rosas and Infantry Lieutenant Armando Rodríguez were also in the plane and died
Mexico‘s Defense Ministry is investigating what caused an Air Force jet to crash, killing six military members onboard.
The accident occurred Sunday at 9:45am just moments after the Learjet 45 had departed from El Lencero International Airport in Xalapa, Veracruz.
The flights were part of a series of practice segments that the pilots were conducting as they were heading to Villahermosa, Tabasco, before the aircraft crashed.
Emergency response workers and soldiers attempt to pry open a Mexican Air Force Learjet 45’s door moments after it crashed Sunday morning at El Lencero International Airport in Xalapa, Veracruz. The Defense Ministry said six military servicemen were killed in the accident, but did not mention how many people were on board
A member of the Xalapa municipal police inspects the wreckage of a military jet that crashed shortly after it attempted to take off from El Lencero International Airport on Sunday morning. The Mexican Defense Ministry said six Air Force servicemen were killed in the accident
Mexico’s Defense Ministry said it is investigating what caused an Air Force jet’s accident at El Lancero International Airport in Xalapa, Veracruz, on Sunday
The aircraft reportedly failed to gain altitude and crashed at the end of the runway, landing in a farm where it exploded in flames.
Video recorded at the accident scene shows the moment an emergency response team and soldiers rock the front part of the aircraft back and forth as the rear half of it was completely burned except for its tail, which remained intact.
Separate video footage also shows a soldier and a fireman taking turns and hitting the cockpit window in a frantic attempt to pull out the pilots.
Mexican newspaper Excelsior reported that the Mexican military purchased the jet from a private firm in the United States. The jet was built in 2007
A Mexican Air Force Learjet 45 crashed moments after takeoff Sunday at El Lencero International Airport in Xalapa, Veracruz. The military identified the victims as Second Captain Aldo Rivas; Lieutenants Germán Flores, Juan Villalpando and Gumaro Acosta; First Captain Gustavo Rosas; and Infantry Lieutenant Armando Rodríguez.
A statement from the Secretary of Defense did not say how many people were on board the plane.
The victims, according to Mexican news outlet Milenio, were identified as Second Captain Aldo Rivas; Lieutenants Germán Flores, Juan Villalpando and Gumaro Acosta; First Captain Gustavo Rosas; and Infantry Lieutenant Armando Rodríguez.
The aircraft was built in 2007 and purchased by the Mexican military from a private firm in the United States.
