Honduras plane crash: At least 12 killed, including popular musician Aurelio Martinez

At least 12 people lost their lives on Monday when a small plane crashed into the sea while taking off from a Caribbean island off Honduras, officials said.

The Lanhsa Airlines plane departed from Roatan, a major tourist destination in the Central American country, heading towards La Ceiba on the mainland. The crash happened at nightfall.

According to civil aviation official Carlos Padilla, the aircraft "made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water."


A fisherman, whose name was not given, told HCH television, "The plane almost fell on us. I was fishing."

Rescue and casualties

The fire department confirmed that 12 people were killed in the accident. Five others were rescued, while one person is still missing.

Among the victims was Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez, a well-known figure in the Garifuna music scene, local media reported.

One of the injured passengers was a 40-year-old French citizen, who will be transferred to a hospital in San Pedro Sula, according to Major Wilmer Guerrero of the fire department.

Cause of the crash

The plane, a British-made Jetstream 41, had 15 passengers, two pilots, and a flight attendant onboard, police said.

Authorities believe the crash, which occurred about a kilometre from the coast, was caused by an "apparent mechanical failure."

Government response

Honduran President Xiomara Castro said she had "immediately activated" an emergency committee, including the armed forces and firefighters, to assist the victims and respond to the crisis.

Inputs from AFP