Two United States pilots have died in a fiery plane crash while attempting an emergency landing in the Dominican Republic, authorities confirmed on Monday.
The aircraft was bound for Texas to pick up former Major League Baseball all-star catcher Yadier Molina, along with his family and friends, Molina said on social media.
The crash occurred on Sunday near the southern coastal town of La Romana, according to a statement from the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation. The pilot and co-pilot were identified as US citizens.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. The incident was captured on cellphone video that circulated widely online. No passengers were aboard the plane at the time.
"My condolences to the pilots and their family!" Molina wrote on social media. He and his group were headed to Puerto Rico.
Officials said the plane had departed from Puerto Rico and stopped in the Dominican Republic to refuel before continuing to Texas. The pilots reported an emergency shortly after taking off from the Dominican Republic.
Yadier Molina, a legendary catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, retired from MLB after the 2022 season. He remains a prominent figure in baseball, particularly in the Caribbean region.
