This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
In an Instagram story last night, former Major League Baseball catcher Yadier Molina revealed that a private jet hired to fly him and his family from Texas to Puerto Rico had crashed in La Romana, Dominican Republic.
Per a post on X by Francisco Diaz, the aircraft involved had the tail number N318JF, which according to FAA records is registered to Aibonito Aviation LLC of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Diaz’ post indicated that the plane took off from La Romana, reported flight control problems and attempted to return.
Data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24.com showed that the jet took off from San Juan at 12:11 p.m. UTC on Sunday and landed at La Romana at 12:49 p.m. It then took off for Austin, Texas at 7:30 p.m. UTC and circled over the eastern Dominican Republic for approximately 40 minutes before the accident occured at 8:11 p.m. UTC.
In video posted to X by Mike Rodriguez, a baseball broadcaster and reporter who now works for LIDOM’s Tigres del Licey, the jet, a Gulfstream G200, appears to miss the runway and skid into a grassy area at La Romana’s airport, shedding an engine and other pieces before hitting a bump and bursting into flames.
Según lo publicado por el exgrandesligas Yadier Molina en su cuenta de Instagram, el avión que se accidentó en el que fallecieron el piloto y el copiloto, únicos a bordo se dirigía a Texas para recogerlo a él y a su familia. El accidente ocurrió en La Romana, República… pic.twitter.com/mTi7uM7wNZ
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) June 8, 2026
The New York Post reported on Monday morning that the jet had declared an emergency and was attempting to land at La Romana International Airport, where the accident occurred.
According to Molina’s Instagram post, both pilots were from the United States and died in the accident.
Molina led the Navegantes del Magallanes of Venezuela’s Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional to both the LVBP title, the 14th in the club’s history, and the Serie de Las Americas championship. He currently serves as a special advisor to St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.
Photo: Head Coach Yadier Molina #4 of Team Puerto Rico looks on against team Dominican Republic during their World Baseball Classic Pool D game at loanDepot park on March 15, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
