LA ROMANA, Dominican Republic — Two American pilots were killed Sunday when a private aircraft crashed and caught fire while attempting an emergency landing near the southern Dominican Republic city of La Romana, according to aviation authorities.
The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation identified the victims as a pilot and co-pilot from the United States. No passengers were aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash.
Officials said the plane had departed Puerto Rico and landed in the Dominican Republic to refuel before continuing on to Texas. Shortly after taking off from La Romana, the crew reported an in-flight emergency and attempted to return, but the aircraft crashed before completing the landing.
The cause of the emergency has not yet been determined and remains under investigation.
Former MLB All-Star catcher Yadier Molina revealed on social media that the aircraft was scheduled to travel to Texas to pick up him, along with family and friends, before they returned to Puerto Rico.
“My condolences to the pilots and their family,” Molina wrote.
Dominican aviation authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Comments