Mexican news anchor Debora Estrella dies in horror plane crash while training to fly

TV presenter Debora Estrella has tragically died at age 43 in a horrific plane crash in northern Mexico.

Ms Estrella had been the face of the popular Telediario morning program in Monterrey since 2018 and was also a familiar figure on Milenio Television news segments, as well as fronting Telediario in Mexico City on weekends.

Her network, MULTIMEDIA, confirmed the devastating news in a sombre statement on social media.

“At MULTIMEDIA we are shocked and deeply sorry for the loss of our colleague, Debora Estrella, 43 years old,” the statement read.

“She had been running the Morning Telediario in Monterrey since 2018, as well as taking over spaces in the news of Milenio Television and the Mexico City Telediario, through Channel 6 on the weekends. Debora died this Saturday, September 20, in a plane crash registered in the municipality of Garcia, Nuevo León. We express our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. Rest in peace, mate.”

According to Mirror, Ms Estrella had been learning to fly when the small Cessna two-seater she was training in plummeted to the ground. Both she and her instructor, 22-year-old Bryan Ballesteros, were killed instantly.

The tragedy came just hours after the presenter had shared an upbeat Instagram story with her followers, revealing she was embarking on a flying lesson. She posted a photograph of the aircraft with the caption: “Guess what,” accompanied by a smiling selfie.

The crash unfolded near an industrial estate in Garcia at around 6.50pm. Emergency crews raced to the scene but were unable to save either occupant of the plane.

Ms Estrella was a beloved and accomplished TV figure, regularly sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life at MMTV with her fans. Her final post, uploaded from the studio earlier that day, showed her smiling in a black outfit with the caption: “Buenos dias.”

Tributes have since poured in from colleagues, viewers and admirers across Mexico. Fellow presenters described her as a “bright light in the newsroom” and praised her professionalism and warmth off-camera.

Fans filled her social media pages with messages of grief and disbelief, with one writing: “We are very sorry for the loss of Debora, a hug to the whole family,” while another added, “You left too soon, Debora, thank you for waking us up with your joy every morning.”

Local officials have confirmed that aviation authorities will investigate the cause of the crash, with early reports suggesting the aircraft may have suffered a mechanical failure.

Beyond her on-screen career, Ms Estrella was admired for her charitable work, often lending her profile to campaigns supporting children’s education and women’s empowerment.

Friends said she was “fearless and adventurous,” making her decision to learn how to fly a natural extension of her spirited personality.