At least 12 people have tragically died following a plane crash off the Caribbean coast of Honduras on Monday evening. The aircraft, operated by Honduran airline Lanhsa, crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from Roatán Island.
The crash occurred about one minute after departure from Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport, with the plane en route to Golosón International Airport in La Ceiba. The Jetstream 32 aircraft reportedly made a sharp right turn after takeoff before plummeting into the water.
While the Honduran national police and fire department reported rescuing five people, one person is still missing. The cause of the crash remains unclear, though Roatán’s mayor confirmed that weather conditions were normal at the time. The Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency has launched an investigation into the incident.
Among the dead was the well-known Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez Suazo, a member of the Garifuna community, which is of mixed indigenous and Afro-Caribbean descent. Suazo was recognized for his contributions to Garifuna music, a distinctive style rooted in the culture of the region.
In response to the disaster, President Xiomara Castro activated the national emergency committee, including police, fire services, the military, Red Cross, and the Ministry of Health. Videos from the scene showed rescue teams working in the dark, assisting survivors and transporting the injured to hospitals, including the city of San Pedro Sula. The Honduran government expressed condolences, offering solidarity with the victims’ families during this difficult time.