Two crew members died this Sunday after a Gulfstream private jet crashed at La Romana International Airport, in the Dominican Republic, after reporting an emergency minutes after taking off.

According to local media, the aircraft, registered in the United States, had arrived from Puerto Rico and made a stopover in La Romana to refuel before continuing on a charter flight to Austin, Texas.

The crew tried to return to the airport

According to preliminary reports, shortly after takeoff the pilots reported a failure that forced them to attempt an emergency return to the airport.

Flight tracking data showed that the plane performed approach maneuvers and hovered over the area before attempting to land again.

However, during the maneuver the aircraft lost stability and ended up impacting within the airport perimeter.

Images broadcast by local media showed a large column of black smoke rising from the wreckage of the plane as emergency crews battled the flames.

The authorities confirmed that the two occupants of the aircraft, the pilot and co-pilot, died at the scene of the accident. Their identities have not been disclosed.

Yadier Molina reacted after learning about the accident

Former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, considered one of the best defenders in Major League history, reported that the crashed plane was scheduled to pick him up, his family and several friends.

Through Instagram, Yadier Molina expressed his condolences to the pilots' families.

"My condolences to the pilots and their families. This plane was coming to pick up me, my family and my friends in Texas to take us back to Puerto Rico. It is devastating," he wrote.

After the accident, airport rescue service personnel, firefighters and members of aviation safety agencies cordoned off the area and began the work of collecting evidence.

The Dominican aeronautical authorities announced the opening of an investigation to determine the causes of the accident, including the analysis of the failure reported by the crew before attempting to return to the airport.

At the moment, it has not been reported whether weather conditions or any specific mechanical problem could have influenced the accident.

Who is Yadier Molina

Yadier Molina spent his entire career in the Major Leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals, an organization with which he won two World Series titles and participated in ten All-Star Games.

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican is widely recognized as one of the best defensive catchers in the history of professional baseball.

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