Two pilots died in a plane crash in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, June 7. The aircraft was on its way to pick up former MLB star Yadier Molina and his family in Texas.
Videos by Wide Open Country
What Happened to the Pilots?
As reported by PEOPLE, the crash occurred at La Romana International Airport. The plane, which was taking off to pick up Molina, had just left when it began having problems. It then returned to the airport to attempt an emergency landing.
"An accident occurred on Sunday afternoon at La Romana International Airport involving the crash of a private aircraft, a Gulfstream 200, registration N318JF," the airport said in a statement.
"The plane was crewed by pilot Erick Javier Diago and co-pilot Ruddy Ghazal, both of American nationality and the only occupants of the flight, which was headed to the city of Austin, Texas, in the United States."
Video shows the jet landing on the runway, bouncing several times into the air before hitting the ground. A fire then exploded around the fuselage, leaving a large plume of smoke.
Yadier Molina Commented On the Tragedy
Molina confirmed on his Instagram Stories that the plane had been on its way to pick him up.
"My condolences to the pilots and their families," he wrote. "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."
Local reports state that authorities in the Dominican Republic are investigating the accident.
The day before the crash, Molina and his family were seen at the Texas 6A D1 state baseball championship in Austin. They were there to cheer on his son, a player for Lake Travis High School.
Molina played his entire 19-year career as a catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. He retired in 2022 at the age of 40. The 10-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion is considered by many to be one of the greatest catchers of all time.
