A private jet crashed while attempting an emergency landing in San Mateo Atenco, Mexico, on Monday, December 15, 2025, killing all 10 people aboard, including three children. The aircraft struck a warehouse and burst into flames near Toluca International Airport, approximately 31 miles west of Mexico City.
The Cessna Citation III, registered as XA-PRO and operated by JetPro SA, had departed from Acapulco and was bound for Toluca when the crew reported an emergency. Mexico State Civil Protection Coordinator Adrián Hernández confirmed that eight passengers and two crew members perished in the accident.
Among the victims were three children believed to be from the same family. The pilot, Juan Carlos Olivares Casas, 61, and co-pilot Walding Sanchez Manzano, 72, also died in the crash. Adult passengers killed included Raul Gomez Ruiz, 60; Olga Janine Buenfil Cardone, 60; Gustavo Palomino Olet, 50; Ilse Lizeth Hernandez Tellez, 32; and Raul Gomez Buenfil, 31. One child was reportedly aged 4.
The jet attempted to land on a soccer field but instead hit the metal roof of a nearby warehouse, starting a massive fire. The warehouse stored fuel and gas tanks, prompting immediate evacuation efforts in the surrounding area. Secretary of Security Cristóbal Castañeda said precautionary evacuations were necessary due to the hazardous materials inside the building.
San Mateo Atenco Mayor Ana Muñiz told Milenio Televisión that approximately 130 people were evacuated from the area following the crash. The warehouse was unoccupied at the time of impact, preventing additional casualties on the ground.
Local resident Octavio Contreras described the terrifying moments before 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.”
In the final communication between the pilot and air traffic control, the pilot reported an emergency situation. The last recorded transmission captured the pilot saying, “We’re crashing,” according to investigators reviewing the incident.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies worked to extinguish the flames that engulfed the crash site. Photographs from the scene showed the scorched soccer field and the warehouse with shattered windows and extensive fire damage. Black smoke billowed into the sky as firefighters battled the blaze.
The Civil Protection Firefighters of Toluca released a statement acknowledging their response to the disaster. “In support of a disaster following the collapse of a small plane at the intersection of Industria Automotriz and Miguel Aleman, we immediately went to the site in coordination with Metepec Firefighters, San Mateo Atenco and Lightning, applying the relevant safety protocols,” the department said. “We continue to work in solidarity and jointly with state emergency bodies and neighboring municipalities to achieve the total fire extinguishing and safeguarding the population.”
Authorities have launched an investigation into the crash. Investigators are focusing on the theory that an engine problem may have caused the aircraft to lose control during its approach to Toluca. The Attorney General’s Office is conducting a full inquiry to determine the exact cause of the accident.
JetPro SA, which operates a fleet of 11 jets and four helicopters providing executive jet rental and aviation consulting services, has not yet issued a public statement regarding the crash. Initial reports incorrectly identified another company, Servicios Aereos Estrella, as the operator. That company released a statement clarifying the aircraft did not belong to them and was not operated under their authority.
The Cessna Citation III is a business jet commonly used for private and corporate travel. The aircraft involved in this incident was traveling on what should have been a short domestic flight from the Pacific coastal resort city of Acapulco to Toluca, located in central Mexico.
The crash site in San Mateo Atenco is situated in an industrial area just three miles from Toluca International Airport. The proximity to the airport suggests the aircraft was in its final approach phase when the emergency occurred, leading to the attempted landing on the soccer field.
This tragedy marks one of the deadliest aviation accidents in central Mexico in recent years. The loss of three children from what investigators believe was a single family has particularly devastated the local community. The swift response by emergency personnel prevented the fire from spreading to nearby residential and commercial structures, though the warehouse sustained significant structural damage.
Aviation safety experts will examine all aspects of the flight, including maintenance records, weather conditions, pilot communications, and mechanical systems. The focus on potential engine failure suggests investigators have preliminary evidence pointing toward a mechanical malfunction, though no official conclusions have been released.
The investigation is expected to take several months as authorities work to piece together the sequence of events that led to the fatal crash. Mexican aviation officials will coordinate with international safety organizations to ensure a thorough examination of all evidence recovered from the wreckage.