Tragedy struck off the coast of Honduras as a small passenger plane carrying 17 people crashed into the Caribbean Sea, leaving at least 12 dead, including a U.S. citizen. The ill-fated flight, operated by Lanhsa Airlines, had just taken off from the island of Roatán on Monday night when an apparent mechanical failure sent it spiraling into the water.
According to reports, the British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft was bound for the mainland but barely made it beyond the shoreline before disaster struck. Civil aviation official Carlos Padilla described how the plane took off, made a sharp right turn, and then plunged into the sea.
Local fishermen in the area were nearly hit by the aircraft as it went down. One witness recounted the terrifying moment, saying, ““The plane almost fell on us. I was fishing.””
Rescue teams scrambled to the crash site, located just 0.6 miles off the coast. Dramatic footage captured emergency workers lifting survivors from the water on stretchers. Five passengers were rescued, but the majority of those on board did not survive.
Among the victims was Aurelio Martínez, a beloved Honduran musician and politician. Martínez, 56, was an icon in the Garífuna music scene and had also served as a representative in the Honduran National Congress.
Tributes poured in from across the region, including a statement from Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which called him ““a true champion of Garífuna culture and music.””
Authorities have confirmed that the plane carried passengers of various nationalities, including a U.S. citizen, a French citizen, and two minors. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department expressed condolences to the victims’ families, but due to privacy concerns, no further details were shared about the deceased American passenger.
As of Monday night, Honduran officials stated that only one body remained to be recovered from the wreckage. The recovery efforts have been challenging, with divers facing near-zero visibility due to the location’s rocky underwater terrain.
In response to the catastrophe, Honduran President Xiomara Castro immediately activated an Emergency Operations Committee to coordinate rescue and recovery efforts. The tragedy has cast a shadow over Roatán, a renowned tourist destination known for its breathtaking coral reefs and pristine beaches.
Investigations are now underway to determine the exact cause of the crash. While mechanical failure is suspected, aviation authorities will conduct a thorough review to understand what went wrong in those final moments before the aircraft plunged into the sea.
