▁A ▁total ▁of ▁ 4 9 ▁people , ▁including ▁ 4 4 ▁on ▁the ▁ground , ▁were ▁killed ▁in ▁the ▁crash . ▁At ▁least ▁ 2 0 ▁people ▁were ▁injured , ▁with ▁reports ▁that ▁the ▁number ▁could ▁be ▁much ▁higher . ▁The ▁accident ▁was ▁caused ▁due ▁to ▁cargo ▁shift ▁in ▁the ▁compart ment , ▁causing ▁a ▁shift ▁in ▁the ▁center ▁of ▁gravity . ▁A ▁short ▁circuit ▁also ▁caused ▁the ▁landing ▁g ear ▁to ▁extend , ▁leading ▁to ▁the ▁aircraft ' s ▁rapid ▁increase ▁in ▁drag . ▁The ▁crash ▁was ▁the ▁second ▁dead liest ▁aircraft ▁accident ▁involving ▁a ▁Bo eing ▁C - 9 7 G ▁Str at of re ighter . ▁ ▁Acc ident ▁The ▁aircraft , ▁a ▁Bo eing ▁C - 9 7 G ▁Str at of re ighter , ▁registered ▁as ▁H I - 4 8 1 , ▁was ▁operated ▁as ▁a ▁cargo ▁flight ▁by ▁Bel ize ▁Air ▁International . ▁It ▁was ▁carrying ▁▁ 1 8 ▁champion ▁horses , ▁for ▁an ▁e quest rian ▁competition ▁in ▁Miami , ▁for ▁Indian apolis ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 0 th ▁Ann ual ▁Pan ▁American ▁Games . ▁The ▁aircraft ▁took ▁off ▁from ▁Mexico ▁City ▁International ▁Airport ▁at ▁ 5 : 0 1   p . m . ▁Five ▁minutes ▁after ▁take off , ▁the ▁aircraft ▁suddenly ▁had ▁difficulty ▁gain ing ▁alt itude . ▁The ▁alt imeter ▁failed , ▁and ▁the ▁crew ▁tried ▁to ▁pull ▁the ▁plane ▁up ▁as ▁it ▁fle w ▁directly ▁towards ▁sk ys c rap ers . ▁The ▁pil ots ▁managed ▁to ▁d odge