Tragedy Strikes: 12 Confirmed Dead in Honduras Plane Crash

A Honduran airline's aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from Roatán, triggering a national emergency response as efforts to rescue survivors continue amidst mourning for the victims.

At least 12 people have lost their lives following a plane crash off the Caribbean coast of Honduras on Monday evening, according to official reports. The aircraft, operated by the Honduran airline Lanhsa, went down into the sea just one minute after it departed from Roatán Island. Officials from both the Honduran national police and fire department confirmed that five individuals were rescued, while one person remains unaccounted for.

The precise cause of the crash has not yet been established, although local authorities indicate that weather conditions at the time were normal. The mayor of Roatán assured media outlets that the accident was not attributable to adverse weather. The Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The crashed plane, a Jetstream 32, took off from Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport at 6:18 PM local time, bound for Golosón International Airport in La Ceiba on the Honduran mainland. Civil aviation official Carlos Padilla reported that the aircraft made a "sharp turn to the right of the runway" before plunging into the water.

Expressing condolences to the victims' families, the government of Honduras shared its sorrow over the tragic accident in a statement. "The Government of Honduras deeply regrets the tragic accident in Roatán and joins in the national mourning," they announced.

In response to the disaster, Honduran President Xiomara Castro promptly activated the nation’s emergency committee, which includes a coalition of military, police, fire department, Red Cross, and Ministry of Health personnel. In a message posted on social media platform X, she highlighted that the emergency response team was "working tirelessly" to aid those affected, adding, "May God protect people's lives."

Videos disseminated by officials depict rescue operations taking place in darkness along the rocky shoreline, where small boats and stretchers are being utilized. Additionally, the Honduran armed forces reported on X that survivors with injuries were evacuated to a hospital in San Pedro Sula via air force aircraft.

Among the deceased is renowned Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez Suazo, a prominent figure within the Garifuna community, known for its unique musical heritage rooted in a blend of indigenous and Afro-Caribbean cultures originating from St. Vincent.