A festive gender reveal event in Mexico took a tragic turn when a stunt plane involved in the celebration crashed, resulting in the death of the pilot. The incident, captured on video and shared on social media, showed the couple at the center of the celebration holding hands in front of a brightly lit sign that read “Oh Baby,” surrounded by their loved ones. The Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee aircraft, which was part of the spectacle, filled the sky above San Pedro with pink smoke, while confetti was launched from a cannon on the ground.
The video shows the plane’s left wing appearing to fail as the pilot, later identified as 32-year-old Luis Ángel N., attempted to pull the aircraft upwards. This maneuver sent the plane spiraling out of control. Meanwhile, the party attendees on the ground seemed completely oblivious to the unfolding disaster in the sky.
Local authorities were alerted to the crash by a concerned partygoer. The pilot was found in the wreckage and rushed to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The video of the incident has since gone viral, reigniting debates about the safety of elaborate gender reveal events.
Critics on social media have expressed their concerns about the growing trend of extravagant gender reveal parties. One user commented on the disregard for the pilot’s safety, while another expressed shock that the attendees seemed unaware of the crash until the cameraman noticed it.
Speculation about the cause of the crash has also been rife on social media. Some users suggested that the plane’s sudden upward movement coincided with the firing of the ground-based CO2 cannon, implying that the aircraft may have been inadvertently “blasted out of the sky.” Others suggested that structural fatigue or overstressing of the wings could have contributed to the crash.
This incident is not the first time a gender reveal party has resulted in tragedy. In 2020, a similar celebration in California sparked a wildfire that spread across 10,000 acres of land. Another incident involved a sign releasing pink smoke and confetti, which nearly ignited surrounding trees. In 2019, an Australian family’s car was set on fire due to special tires designed to emit blue smoke for a gender reveal.
The series of accidents associated with gender reveal parties has led to public apologies from Jenna Karvunidis, a mommy blogger credited with popularizing these types of celebrations.