Mexico Citation III Crash under Federal Investigation

Mexico’s federal transportation ministry said a Cessna Citation III crashed south of Toluca International Airport (MMTO) on December 15 after entering an excessive left bank. All 10 aboard were killed in the crash.

In its press bulletin, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation said, “At approximately 12:31 p.m. local time, an air accident was registered south of the vicinity of the Toluca International Airport.” The ministry added that the incident involved “Cessna Citation 650…[that] departed from the Port of Acapulco towards Toluca and in which, according to the flight plan, eight passengers, the pilot, and the copilot were traveling.

“Emergency services and inter-institutional coordination were immediately activated to address this incident.” The bulletin said the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), the Directorate of Aviation Accident and Incident Analysis (DAAIA), and the Directorate of Air Navigation Services in Mexican Airspace (SENEAM) are investigating.

The crew of the Citation III, which was registered as XA-PRO, reportedly contacted the Toluca tower a few minutes before arrival and was cleared to land, but the airplane entered a sharp left turn about 1.5 nm before the runway threshold. Surveillance video shows the aircraft descending with an excessive left bank angle before impact.

The Associated Press, attributing information to Mexico state civil protection coordinator Adrián Hernández, said the airplane crashed while attempting an emergency landing and that at least seven people were killed, with seven bodies recovered several hours after the accident. Hernández believed the airplane tried to land on a soccer field, according to the AP report, but struck the metal roof of a nearby business, starting a large fire, and that San Mateo Atenco Mayor Ana Muñiz told Milenio Television the fire forced the evacuation of about 130 people.