News anchor Debora Estrella, 43, was a beloved voice on television.
But sadly, the TV star died in a horrific plane crash on during her first flying lesson.
For Mexican TV audiences, journalist Debora Estrella was a familiar face. She started at TV Azteca in 2014 presenting the weather, later moving to Mexico City to work on news broadcasts.
After leaving TV Azteca in 2016, she joined Multimedios Televisión as part of the news team at Milenio Televisión. By 2018, she became the main anchor for the morning news program Telediario Matutino on Channel 6.
Alongside her successful TV career, Estrella had a deep passion for flying — a passion that tragically led to her untimely death.
According to friends and colleagues, Estrella had recently begun taking lessons to become a pilot. On September 20, 2025, she boarded a small Cessna aircraft in the municipality of García, Nuevo León, alongside pilot and instructor Bryan Ballesteros.
Tragically, the two-seater plane went down near an industrial area shortly after takeoff. Within minutes, Civil Protection confirmed two fatalities — 43-year-old Estrella and Bryan Ballesteros.
Bittersweet picture
Hours before the crash, Estrella shared a bittersweet Instagram story, posting a photo of the plane with the caption, “Guess what.”
Unverified clips circulating on social media appear to show the small plane spiraling before crashing to the ground.
Even Estrella’s ex-husband, journalist Jose Luis Garcia, shared news of the crash before realizing she was on board: “A plane has come down. Civil Protection in Nuevo Leon confirmed two people have died in the accident close to the Ciudad Mitras Industrial Estate in Garcia.”
Heartbreaking tributes poured in from colleagues. Maria Julia Lafuente, visibly emotional on-air, said, “How can I say, Good morning, happy Sunday, when our hearts and souls are broken?” She added, “If there is one thing we can all learn from her, it is to live life to the fullest and not waste a single moment, because every minute counts.”
Fans flooded social media with love and remembrance. One wrote, “Fly high Deborah. Rest in peace.” Another added, “Always so funny!! Fly high beautiful girl!! This news hurts me.” Others celebrated her signature smile, calling her “a great human being” and “a bright soul gone too soon.”
Last conversation
One heartfelt comment reflected on the bravery of those on board: “No one talks about the comments that say that the little plane went up and down, that you could see they were trying to maneuver probably because they knew they were not going to survive, but they tried to avoid hitting a populated area so the damage was not bigger. So if it was so, let’s thank them up in heaven 🕊️.”
According to her friends, Débora had recently started taking flying lessons. Maria Lafuente noted that one of her, TV journalist Víctor Martínez, had spent time with Estrella the day before the tragedy at a mutual friend’s birthday party.
During their conversation, Estrella confided in her circle that she was beginning flying lessons to eventually earn her pilot’s license.
“We talked, and she told me, ‘I’m going to start flying, learn a bit about it, and one day we’ll fly together,’” Martínez said.
Víctor Martínez, who had formed a close friendship with Débora, highlighted that their last words to each other were a promise to meet more often — and to take that flight together.
Debora Estrella’s legacy as a vibrant, passionate journalist and fearless soul will live on in the hearts of all who knew her — and those inspired by her unforgettable presence on screen.
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