Local News
Victims Identified After Military Aircraft Carrying Burn Patient Crashes in Galveston Bay
Mexican authorities have released the identities of those killed after a Mexican Navy medical aircraft crashed into Galveston Bay while transporting a critically injured burn patient on a humanitarian mission.
The Secretariat of the Navy of Mexico (SEMAR) confirmed that the King Air ANX-1209 aircraft, operated by the Mexican Navy, went down Monday while en route from Mexico to Galveston, Texas.
The flight was part of a medical evacuation under Plan Marina, conducted in coordination with the Michou and Mau Foundation, which specializes in transporting children with severe burns for advanced treatment.
Multiple agencies responded to the crash, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office.
A large law enforcement and first-responder presence was observed near the base of the Interstate 45 Causeway as rescue and recovery operations unfolded.
SEMAR confirmed that eight people were aboard the aircraft: four members of the naval crew and four civilians.
Of those, five have been confirmed dead, one remains missing and is presumed deceased, and two survived and are receiving medical care.
Confirmed fatalities – Mexican Navy personnel:
- Lieutenant A.N. P.A. Víctor Rafael Pérez Hernández
- Lieutenant S.S.N. Juan Iván Zaragoza Flores
- Marinero A.N. E. Av. Guadalupe Flores Barranco
Missing and presumed deceased:
- Lieutenant A.N. P.A. Luis Enrique Castillo Terrones
(His body has not been recovered; however, SEMAR stated that given the circumstances, he is presumed deceased.)
Civilian passengers who died:
- Federico Efraín Ramírez Cruz, pediatric burn patient
- Dr. Juan Alfonso Adame González, physician accompanying the patient
Survivors:
- Julia Aracelis Cruz Vera, patient companion
- Miriam de Jesús Rosas Mancilla, nurse
In a statement, the Mexican Navy emphasized that the aircraft was conducting a humanitarian medical support mission at the time of the crash, underscoring the risks associated with emergency medical evacuations.
The death of Dr. Juan Alfonso Adame González has prompted an outpouring of grief in his hometown of Tomatlán, Jalisco. Community members, colleagues, and local leaders described him as a deeply committed physician who dedicated his life to humanitarian service. He was escorting a severely burned child to Shriners Hospital in Galveston when the crash occurred.
Local tributes described Dr. Adame González as “a brave young man and a hero who gave his life in service to others.” Family members, friends, and colleagues highlighted his unwavering commitment to helping vulnerable children and his strong sense of duty instilled through his upbringing.
SEMAR and the Michou and Mau Foundation also issued statements mourning the loss, noting the critical importance of these missions in saving the lives of children with severe burn injuries.
Investigations into the cause of the crash remain ongoing, with Mexican and U.S. authorities working jointly to determine what led to the incident.
Condolences continue to pour in for the families of all victims, as well as for the community of Tomatlán, which mourns the loss of a physician remembered for his compassion, professionalism, and lifelong dedication to service.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.