Débora Estrella lost her life in a plane crash in Nuevo León, Mexico. Her ex-husband, journalist José Luis García, was among the first to report on the incident, unaware that she was on board.
The journalist covered the accident as part of his daily work. At that moment, he had no information about the victims’ identities, nor did he know about the personal tragedy tied to the story.
The accident has brought renewed attention to the relationship they shared for more than fifteen years, as well as to García’s past comments about their separation. This is their story—one of deep love, and a heartbreaking end.
The Accident
On September 20, 2025, a small aircraft with registration number XB-BGH crashed in the municipality of García, Nuevo León. The accident took place near the Pesquería River, inside the Ciudad Mitras industrial park, around 6:50 p.m. Local residents even managed to film the plane as it fell.
Authorities confirmed that two people were killed: Débora Estrella and pilot Bryan Leonardo Ballesteros Argueta.
Estrella was 43 years old, a well-known television figure and the main host of Telediario Matutino in Monterrey since 2018. She was also part of the programming on Milenio TV and Channel 6.
Just a few hours before the tragedy, Estrella had shared an image on her Instagram Stories showing the plane at the North International Airport. She gave no details about the flight’s purpose, but the photo matched the aircraft that later crashed.
The Post by José Luis García, Unaware
José Luis García reported the accident on social media, not knowing that his ex-wife was among the victims. He wrote:
“Light aircraft crashes. Nuevo León Civil Protection confirms a couple found dead near the Riveras Interpuerto by the Ciudad Mitras Industrial Park in García. The plane was filmed by neighbors as it fell near the riverbank.”
Within minutes, users began suggesting that one of the victims might be Estrella, pointing to the Instagram photo she had posted earlier. One comment openly read:
“There’s speculation it was your ex-wife, José Luis, because she posted a picture of a small plane.”
As speculation and reactions grew, García deleted the post around 11:50 p.m. that night. So far, he has not issued any public statement about her death.
A Long and Private Relationship
Their story began in Monterrey, where both worked in television: she at TV Azteca, he at Televisa. Their relationship lasted more than fifteen years, including ten years of marriage.
They shared trips, celebrations, and happy moments—many of which appeared on social media. For their ninth wedding anniversary, they celebrated at Disneyland, where Estrella posted:
“Pure love, pure fun, pure complicity. What an incredible adventure this has been!!”
For García’s 2019 birthday, she dedicated a heartfelt message alongside a smiling photo of the two:
“If you see him, wish him a happy birthday. A very, very, very happy birthday, José Luis García. You deserve all the good and beautiful things. No one more extraordinary, no one more intense, no one more alive than you.”
In another joint post from December 2018, they wished followers:
“We wish you a wonderful December 25th with your family. Thank you for everything. Blessings from us to you.”
The couple had no children and chose to keep their personal lives private, despite their increasing visibility in the media. Estrella often shared her passion for aviation, writing in one post:
“My admiration and gratitude to everyone who works in aviation.”
The Separation
Their separation came in January 2020. They announced the divorce publicly with a joint message:
“The story we began together ten years ago has now come to an end.”
A year later, García spoke for the first and only time about the matter in an interview with host Fernando Lozano. He said:
“I hold on to the best of those 15 years we spent together.”
He explained that the divorce had been amicable:
“We decided it together, we discussed it, we shared the news with our followers, and we agreed not to speak publicly about it beyond that moment. I respected that, and so did she. It was the healthiest way—everything friendly and respectful.”
Later in the interview, he acknowledged starting a new relationship after the divorce, which drew negative comments online. Speaking about the criticism, he said:
“It was a mess… people judge others’ lives so easily.”
Despite speculation, García denied that his new relationship was the reason for their separation, emphasizing that their divorce had been a mutual and peaceful decision.
A Story Brought Back by Tragedy
The death of Débora Estrella has brought her story with José Luis García back into public view. Their relationship, their shared memories, and the way they handled their separation—with discretion and respect—form a long chapter that has now come to the most painful of endings.