Two Pilots Killed in Executive Jet Crash During Emergency Landing in Dominican Republic
@NBCNews reported that a U.S.-registered executive jet crashed while returning to La Romana International Airport on June 7, 2026. Both pilots died; the plane had been heading to Austin to collect former MLB player Yadier Molina and his family.
Nbc NewsAn executive jet burst into flames during a rough landing at La Romana International Airport on June 7, 2026, killing both pilots on board. The plane had taken off minutes earlier from the same airport with no passengers and was en route to Austin, Texas, to pick up former MLB star Yadier Molina and his family.
The pilots declared an in-flight emergency shortly after departure and turned back toward La Romana.
Video posted to X shows the jet skidding along the runway, its nose bucking upward before falling back and igniting in flames. The Dominican Institute for Civil Aviation stated the aircraft declared an emergency when it was about 16 nautical miles southwest of La Romana. -registered tail number N318JF, model GALX, operated by an American aviation company.
It confirmed two crew members and no passengers were aboard. La Romana International Airport named the pilot as Erick Javier Diago and the co-pilot as Ruddy Ghaza. The airport said the crew declared an emergency shortly after takeoff, the aircraft crashed while attempting to land, and veered off the runway.
The Dominican Institute for Civil Aviation and the Investigative Commission for Aviation Accidents are investigating the crash. Officials said additional information will be released as the investigation continues. Yadier Molina posted on Instagram stories: “My condolences to the pilots and their families.
This plane was on its way to pick up me, my family, and friends in Texas to return to Puerto Rico.
