Private jet that crashed was on way to pick former MLB player Yadier Molina

June 8 (UPI) -- A private jet that crashed in the Dominican Republic, killing the pilot and co-pilot, was on its way to pick up Yadier Molina in Austin, Texas, the former MLB all-star said Monday.

Pilot Erick Javier Diago and co-pilot Ruddy Ghazal, both U.S. citizens, died in the crash, La Romana International Airport said in a statement. They were the only people on the Gulfstream G200 Galaxy aircraft.

The pilots declared an emergency shortly after takeoff at the airport and tried to land, but veered off the runway and crashed, KHOU-TV in Houston reported. The plane burst into flames on impact, TMZ Sports said.

Molina, a former catcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, said on social media that the plane was going to Austin to pick up him and some friends and family and take them to Puerto Rico, from which the plane originated. He expressed his condolences to the pilots' families.

The crash is under investigation.

Copyright 2026 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 1:43 PM.