A private jet crash in central Mexico on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, killed all 10 people aboard, including three young children, when the aircraft struck a warehouse during an attempted emergency landing near Toluca International Airport. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time in San Mateo Atenco, an industrial area approximately 32 miles west of Mexico City.
The Cessna Citation III, operating as an air taxi service, had departed from Acapulco along Mexico’s Pacific coast earlier that day. According to multiple reports, the aircraft took off at 12:02 p.m. with Toluca as its scheduled destination. The flight carried eight passengers and two crew members, all of whom perished in the crash.
Mexico State Civil Protection Coordinator Adrian Hernandez confirmed the victims included three children under the age of 10. Authorities identified them as Natalia, 2, Raul, 4, and Ximena, 9. The adult passengers who died were Gustavo Palomino Olet, 50; Ilse Lizeth Hernandez Tellez, 32; Raul Gomez Ruiz, 60; Raul Gomez Buenfil, 31; and Olga Janine Buenfil Cardone, 60. The pilot, Juan Carlos Olivares Casas, 61, and copilot, Walding Sanchez Manzano, 72, also lost their lives.
At a press conference Tuesday, President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed that the victims were members of a family traveling together from Acapulco to Mexico City. She indicated the crash appeared to be due to “a technical failure,” though a full investigation remains ongoing. The president expressed her condolences to the family and friends of those killed.
The pilot had reported a technical malfunction to air traffic controllers before the crash. In his final communication, he indicated the aircraft was experiencing problems and needed to find a place for an emergency landing. Witnesses described seeing the jet attempting to land on a soccer field in the area, but the plane struck the metal roof of a nearby warehouse instead.
The impact ignited a large fire at the crash site. The warehouse stored fuel and gas tanks, creating a dangerous situation that prompted emergency evacuations. San Mateo Atenco Mayor Ana Muñiz told Milenio Television that approximately 130 people were evacuated from the surrounding area as a precautionary measure. Secretary of Security for the State of Mexico Cristobal Castaneda noted the warehouse was unoccupied at the time of the crash, preventing additional casualties on the ground.
Local resident Octavio Contreras described the frightening moments of the crash. “It spun around like when a fan breaks loose,” he said. “Then we heard the explosion, the truck even moved and then we saw smoke coming out.”
Emergency responders from multiple agencies rushed to the scene. Photos from the crash site showed firefighters and civil protection teams working near the charred warehouse, which suffered significant damage with a gaping hole in its structure. The soccer field where the pilot attempted to land also bore visible scorch marks from the impact and subsequent fire.
The Cessna 650 Citation III is a business jet commonly used for executive travel and air taxi services. The aircraft involved in the crash was operated by JetPro SA, a company providing aviation consulting and executive jet rentals. The operator has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident.
Multiple aviation authorities have launched investigations into the crash. The Federal Civil Aviation Agency, the Directorate of Aviation Accident and Incident Analysis, and the Directorate of Air Navigation Services in Mexican Airspace are all conducting reviews to determine the exact cause of the accident. Mexico’s Secretary of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation announced the comprehensive investigation in an official statement.
The location of the crash, just three miles from Toluca International Airport, raised questions about why the pilot could not reach the runway. Aviation safety experts note that emergency landings require pilots to make split-second decisions about where to set down the aircraft, often with limited options in populated areas. The proximity to the airport suggests the technical malfunction may have occurred suddenly, leaving insufficient time to return to the runway.
Despite the severity of the crash and resulting fire, authorities confirmed no casualties occurred on the ground. The warehouse’s vacancy at the time of impact proved fortunate, as the building contained hazardous materials that could have endangered workers. Emergency protocols requiring evacuation of nearby residents and businesses helped ensure public safety during the incident.
The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the final moments of the flight and determine what technical failure led to the loss of all 10 lives. The tragedy has drawn attention to aviation safety standards for private aircraft operations in Mexico, particularly regarding emergency response procedures and aircraft maintenance protocols.
