A tragic incident unfolded near Galveston, Texas, on Monday when a Mexican Navy aircraft carrying a young medical patient and seven others crashed, resulting in at least five fatalities. The crash prompted a search operation along the Texas coastline, according to local authorities.

Among those on board were four Navy officers and four civilians, including a child, as reported by Mexico’s Navy in a statement to The Associated Press. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Baker confirmed the casualties, though it remains unclear who specifically was among the deceased.

The aircraft also carried two representatives from the Michou and Mau Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting Mexican children with severe burn injuries.

The accident occurred Monday afternoon near a causeway close to Galveston, approximately 50 miles southeast of Houston. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

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Mexico’s Navy said in a statement that the plane was helping with a medical mission and had an “accident.” It promised to investigate the cause and is helping local authorities with the search and rescue operation.

Teams from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have arrived at the scene of the crash, the Texas Department of Public Safety said on the social platform X.

A spokesperson from NTSB said they are “aware of this accident and are gathering information about it.”

The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office said officials from its dive team, crime scene unit, drone unit and patrol were responding to the crash. It said in a post on Facebook that the public should avoid the area so emergency responders can work safely.

Galveston is an island that is a popular beach destination.

It’s not immediately clear if weather was a factor. The area has been experiencing foggy conditions over the past few days, according to Cameron Batiste, a National Weather Service meteorologist. He said that at about 2:30 p.m. Monday, a fog came in that had about a half-mile visibility.