Pedro Infante was one of the most popular and beloved Mexican actors and singers of the 20th century. His career spanned the golden age of Mexican cinema, from 1939 to 1957, and he starred in over 60 films and recorded over 350 songs. He was known as the King of Mexican Bolero and the Idol from Guamuchil, and he won several awards for his performances, including a Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlin International Film Festival. However, his life was cut short by a tragic plane crash that shocked and saddened his fans and the entire nation. What was Pedro Infante’s cause of death and how did it happen? Here is what we know.
A Passion for Aviation
Pedro Infante was not only a talented artist, but also an avid aviator. He learned to fly planes in 1944, after being inspired by his friend and fellow actor Jorge Negrete, who was also a pilot. Infante obtained his pilot license in 1945 and became a member of Transportes Aéreos de México S.A. (TAMSA), a cargo airline company, in 1955. He accumulated almost 3,000 flight hours and owned several planes, including a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber that he converted into a luxury aircraft.
However, his passion for flying also brought him some troubles and dangers. He was involved in two previous plane crashes before his fatal one, both in 1947. The first one happened in June, when he was flying from Mexico City to Acapulco with his brother Ángel and two friends. The plane suffered a mechanical failure and crashed into a mountain near Cuernavaca. Luckily, no one was seriously injured and they were rescued by some peasants. The second one occurred in October, when he was flying from Tampico to Mexico City with his wife María Luisa León and two friends. The plane ran out of fuel and crashed into a lake near San Juan de Aragón. Infante suffered a severe head injury that required surgery and left him with a metal plate in his skull. His wife also had serious injuries and lost her pregnancy.
Despite these accidents, Infante did not lose his love for flying and continued to pilot planes whenever he had the chance. He even joked about his fate, saying that he knew he would die in a plane crash someday.
The Final Flight
On April 15, 1957, Pedro Infante was in Mérida, Yucatán, where he had finished filming his latest movie, Escuela de Música (School of Music). He wanted to return to Mexico City as soon as possible, but he could not find a commercial flight ticket available. He decided to hitch a ride on a cargo plane that belonged to TAMSA and was carrying several tons of fish from Mariscos del Golfo, a seafood company. The plane was a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber, the same model as the one he owned, but much older and less reliable.
The pilot of the plane was Captain Víctor Manuel Vidal Lorca, a friend of Infante who had flown with him before. The co-pilot was Marciano Bautista Pérez, who had less experience than Vidal. There were also two passengers on board: Ruth Rosell Chan, an employee of Mariscos del Golfo who was traveling to Mexico City for business reasons; and Baltazar Martín Cruz Gómez, an eight-year-old boy who was traveling with Rosell as her godson.
The plane took off from Mérida’s airport at 7:30 a.m., but it soon encountered problems. According to some witnesses, the plane seemed to have difficulty gaining altitude and made strange noises. Some reports suggest that one of the engines failed or caught fire shortly after takeoff. The pilot tried to return to the airport, but it was too late. The plane crashed into the backyard of a house at the corner of Calle 54 Sur and Calle 87 in Mérida’s downtown area, about five kilometers from the airport. The impact caused a huge explosion that destroyed the plane and set fire to several nearby buildings.
The crash killed all four people on board the plane, as well as two people on the ground: María del Socorro Quijano Canto, who lived in the house where the plane crashed; and her son Manuel Jesús Gómez Quijano, who was playing in the yard with his dog. Several other people were injured by the debris and flames, including María del Socorro’s husband Manuel Gómez Martínez; her daughter María Teresa Gómez Quijano; her sister-in-law María Luisa Canto de Quijano; her nephew José Luis Quijano Canto; and her neighbors José Antonio Cámara and José María Cámara.
The crash site was soon surrounded by hundreds of curious and grieving people, who tried to approach the wreckage and look for survivors or remains. Some of them recognized Pedro Infante’s body, which was badly burned and mutilated, but still wearing his gold bracelet and his pilot license. Some of them also tried to take souvenirs from the scene, such as pieces of metal, clothing, or personal belongings. The authorities had to intervene to control the crowd and secure the area.
The Aftermath
The news of Pedro Infante’s death spread quickly throughout Mexico and the world, causing a wave of shock, disbelief, and sorrow. Millions of fans mourned the loss of their idol, who had been a symbol of Mexican culture and identity. Many people gathered outside his house in Mexico City, his tomb in Panteón Jardín, and the places where he had worked or performed. Many radio stations and movie theaters stopped their regular programming to pay tribute to him. Many newspapers and magazines dedicated their covers and pages to him. Many artists and celebrities expressed their condolences and admiration for him. Many songs and poems were written in his honor.
Pedro Infante’s funeral was held on April 18, 1957, in Mexico City. His coffin was carried by a military escort from his house to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where a mass was celebrated. Then, it was taken to Panteón Jardín, where he was buried next to his mother Refugio Cruz, who had died in 1955. Thousands of people accompanied him in his final journey, throwing flowers and crying out his name.
Pedro Infante’s legacy lives on in his films and songs, which are still widely watched and listened to by generations of fans. He is considered one of the greatest Mexican icons of all time, and one of the most influential figures in Latin American cinema and music. He has been honored with several awards and recognitions, such as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a statue in his hometown of Guamuchil, a museum in Mérida, and a commemorative coin issued by the Bank of Mexico. He has also inspired many biographies, documentaries, novels, plays, musicals, and films about his life and career.
Pedro Infante’s cause of death was a tragic plane crash that ended the life of a Mexican legend. However, his spirit remains alive in the hearts of his fans and admirers, who continue to celebrate his art and legacy.
