Mexican television presenter Debora Estrella and her flight instructor died instantly when their small aircraft crashed during a flying lesson on Saturday, September 21, 2025, in the municipality of Garcia, Nuevo Leon. The 43-year-old Teledario Matutino host was taking her first flying lesson when the Cessna two-seater plummeted to the ground near the Parque Industrial Ciudad Mitras at approximately 6:50 p.m.
Video footage captured from the ground shows the aircraft flying at high speed and low altitude before losing control and crashing. The pilot, identified as 22-year-old Bryan Leonardo Ballesteros Argueta, also perished in the impact. Emergency crews responding to the scene confirmed both occupants died upon impact, with no other injuries reported.
Hours before the fatal crash, Estrella had posted an Instagram photograph of the aircraft with the caption asking her followers to guess what she was doing. She also shared a smiling selfie from the Aeropuerto Internacional del Norte in Apodaca, expressing excitement about her upcoming flight lesson. Her final social media post from earlier that day showed her at the studio in a black outfit with the message wishing her followers good morning.
Estrella had been hosting the morning program for Multimedios Television since 2018, broadcasting from Monterrey. She also appeared regularly on Milenio Television news segments and hosted weekend editions of Telediario in Mexico City through Channel 6. Her network, MULTIMEDIA, confirmed her death in a statement expressing shock and deep sorrow over the loss of their colleague.
The network noted that Estrella had been running the Morning Telediario in Monterrey since 2018 while also taking on roles in other news programs. MULTIMEDIA expressed their deepest condolences to her family and loved ones in their official statement.
Garcia Mayor Manuel Guerra Cavasos confirmed the details of the crash through social media, stating that the light aircraft had crashed into the ground near the customs site, killing both occupants. Civil protection teams responded immediately to the crash site but were unable to save either person aboard the aircraft.
Estrella’s colleague, María Julia Lafuente, described the profound impact of the loss on their workplace. Lafuente indicated that Estrella had planned to obtain a pilot’s license and emphasized how much she would be missed in the newsroom. She noted that the studio will feel extraordinarily empty following Estrella’s death.
Lafuente also characterized Estrella as someone who lived life to the fullest, never held back, and always gave her all to her work. The colleague expressed the difficulty of maintaining normal broadcasting schedules when their hearts and souls were broken by the loss.
Beyond her broadcasting career, Estrella was recognized for her charitable work, frequently lending her profile to campaigns supporting children’s education and women’s empowerment. Friends described her as fearless and adventurous, noting that her decision to learn flying represented a natural extension of her spirited personality.
The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics and the state prosecutor’s office have opened formal investigations to determine the cause of the crash. Early reports suggest the aircraft may have suffered mechanical failure, though official findings have not been released.
Tributes poured in from colleagues, viewers, and admirers across Mexico following news of Estrella’s death. Fellow presenters described her as a bright light in the newsroom while praising her professionalism and warmth off-camera. Fans filled her social media pages with messages of grief and disbelief, with many thanking her for her years of morning broadcasts.
Estrella’s ex-partner, journalist José Luis García, initially reported the crash without knowing she was aboard the aircraft. García had described the incident as a light aircraft crash near the industrial complex Ciudad Mitras in Garcia, noting that locals had recorded the plane crashing near the river.
The crash occurred in Nuevo Leon, a northeastern Mexican state. Witnesses captured footage showing the aircraft performing aerial maneuvers before losing control and crashing to the ground. A helicopter was seen hovering above the crash site as rescue teams worked to assess the situation and provide assistance.
