Two pilots die in Dominican Republic jet crash

An executive jet bound for Texas to pick up former Major League Baseball star Yadier Molina and his family crashed in flames Sunday while trying to make an emergency landing in the Dominican Republic, killing the pilot and co-pilot, authorities said.

No passengers were on board the U.S.-registered aircraft when it went down at La Romana International Airport, officials said. Molina later said on social media that the plane had been heading to Texas to collect him, his family and friends for a trip to Puerto Rico.

“My condolences to the pilots and their families,” Molina wrote in an Instagram story reported by People. “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 Guardian reported that Molina also wrote: “My condolences to the pilots and their family!”

La Romana International Airport identified the two crew members as pilot Erick Javier Diago and co-pilot Ruddy Ghaza. The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation described the pilot and co-pilot as U.S. citizens, The Guardian reported.

The aircraft had taken off from La Romana International Airport with only the two crew members aboard and was headed to Austin, Texas, according to NBC News. The Guardian reported that officials said the plane had departed from Puerto Rico and landed in the Dominican Republic to refuel before continuing to Texas.

Soon after takeoff from La Romana, the crew declared an emergency and turned back toward the airport, authorities said. The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation said the aircraft declared the emergency when it was about 16 nautical miles southwest of La Romana.

“The U.S.-registered aircraft, registered to an American aviation company, had two crew members aboard—the pilot and co-pilot. There were no passengers reported,” the agency said.

The airport said the plane crashed as the crew attempted to land back at La Romana.

“The crew declared an in-flight emergency shortly after takeoff; the aircraft crashed while attempting to land back at La Romana Airport, veering off the runway. Tragically, both occupants lost their lives,” La Romana International Airport said in a statement.

Video posted to X and cellphone footage widely shared on social media showed the jet skidding along the runway during the landing attempt. In the video described by NBC News, the nose of the aircraft bucks upward, then drops back toward the runway before the plane catches fire and erupts in flames.

Authorities have not said what caused the crash. The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation and the Investigative Commission for Aviation Accidents said they are investigating the crash involving aircraft tail number N318JF, model GALX. Officials said more information would be released as the investigation continues.

Molina, a former MLB all-star catcher, was not on the plane. Neither were his family members or friends.