A gender reveal celebration in Mexico took a deadly turn when a stunt plane crashed in front of oblivious partygoers, leaving the pilot dead. The incident, which has since gone viral, has reignited the debate surrounding the safety of extravagant gender reveal parties.
The video, posted on social media, captured the unidentified couple standing in front of a giant lit sign that read “Oh Baby,” surrounded by friends and family. The atmosphere was festive as the Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee plane filled the San Pedro sky with pink smoke, and ground-based cannons shot confetti into the air. However, the joyous occasion quickly turned into a tragedy.
The plane’s left wing appeared to give way as the 32-year-old pilot, identified as Luis Ángel N., attempted to execute a maneuver. The aircraft spiraled out of control, seemingly unnoticed by the party attendees who continued to celebrate on the ground.
Authorities were alerted to the incident after a concerned partygoer called for help. The pilot was found in the wreckage of the plane and rushed to the hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries.
This incident is not the first time that gender reveal parties have gone terribly wrong. In 2020, a gender reveal celebration in California sparked a deadly wildfire that consumed thousands of acres of land. In another instance, an “oh baby” sign launched pink smoke and confetti dangerously close to trees, nearly causing a fire. An Australian family even set their car ablaze in 2019 during a gender reveal involving special tires designed to emit blue smoke.
The tragic crash in Mexico has prompted a renewed discussion about the safety and appropriateness of elaborate gender reveal parties. Many social media users expressed their concern, with one stating, “These gender reveal parties are getting out of hand when people die annually because of them.”
As the video continues to circulate online, questions arise about the cause of the plane’s sudden and fatal descent. Some users speculated that the timing of the plane’s movement coincided with a CO2 cannon firing on the ground, while others suggested structural fatigue or overstressed wings as potential factors.
