Deadly plane crash in Honduras leaves 12 dead, including famous musician
Rescue efforts after deadly Honduras plane crash (Photo: https://x.com/PoliciaHonduras)
At least 12 people were killed when a Lanhsa airline plane crashed into the sea off the coast of Roatán Island, Honduras, shortly after takeoff, including renowned Honduran musician Aurelio Martínez, BBC reports.
The Jetstream 32 aircraft took off from Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport at 18:18 local time, heading for Golosón International Airport in La Ceiba. However, within a minute of departure, it made a sharp right turn and plunged into the water.
Rescue teams search for survivors after the deadly Honduras plane crash (Photo: https://x.com/PoliciaHonduras)
"The plane made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water," said civil aviation official Carlos Padilla, as quoted by AFP.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, but local authorities confirmed that weather conditions were normal at the time.
The Honduran police and fire department reported that five survivors were rescued from the wreckage, while one person remains unaccounted for. Among the victims was renowned Honduran musician Aurelio Martínez Suazo, a prominent figure of Garifuna heritage, known for his Afro-Caribbean musical style.
Honduran police and medical teams rush victims into an ambulance for urgent care (Photo: https://x.com/PoliciaHonduras)
Government response and ongoing investigation
Following the crash, Honduran President Xiomara Castro activated the country’s emergency response team, including the military, police, fire department, Red Cross, and the Ministry of Health.
"The team is working tirelessly to assist the victims," Castro wrote on X, adding, "May God protect people’s lives."
Rescue operations continued throughout the night, with emergency crews searching the rocky coastline and transporting injured survivors to a hospital in San Pedro Sula. Meanwhile, the Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency launched an investigation to determine the cause of the disaster.
This tragedy is one of several aviation incidents in recent months. Earlier, a small plane crash-landed in Pennsylvania, injuring five people and igniting fires in a retirement community.
In late January, a passenger jet collided mid-air with a helicopter near Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Airport, leading to a fatal accident.
And just days later, a Learjet 55 crashed near Philadelphia, sparking house fires and causing multiple injuries.
