A private aircraft that burst into flames during a fatal crash on Sunday was traveling to collect retired St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and his family from Texas, the former baseball star confirmed through social media.
The accident happened Sunday at La Romana airport in the Dominican Republic, just minutes following takeoff of the U.S.-registered Gulfstream G200 aircraft. The flight crew had radioed about a mechanical problem and was trying to circle back to the airfield for an emergency landing.
According to USA Today’s reporting, the aircraft overshot the landing strip, slid off course, struck an obstacle and ignited.
Both the pilot and co-pilot were the sole occupants of the aircraft and died in the crash, Molina stated in his Instagram story.
“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.”
Molina currently lives in Texas and was spotted Friday in the bleachers supporting his son, Yanu, also a catcher, during the UIL Texas 6A D1 state championship game. His son is a player for Lake Travis High School in Austin.
The former catcher, age 43, played his entire 19-season career with the Cardinals, capturing two World Series titles, earning 10 All-Star selections and claiming nine Gold Glove honors. He concluded his playing career following the 2022 season and will appear on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the first time with the 2028 class.
