Tegucigalpa: A plane operated by Honduran airline Lanhsa crashed into the Caribbean Sea minutes after taking off from Roatan Island on Monday night, leaving seven people dead and 10 others rescued from the wreckage, authorities confirmed.
The Jetstream aircraft was carrying 14 passengers and three crew members when it went down about one kilometer (0.6 miles) off the island’s coast, according to Honduras’ transport minister. The flight was en route to La Ceiba airport on the Honduran mainland.
A flight manifest circulated by local media indicated that the passengers included a U.S. national, a French national, and two minors.
Roatan fire captain Franklin Borjas confirmed the number of fatalities, while police and emergency responders detailed ongoing rescue efforts. Among the deceased was renowned Garifuna musician Aurelio Martinez Suazo, according to fire officials.
Dramatic footage shared on social media by the national police depicted rescue teams pulling survivors from the water onto a rocky shoreline, some carried on stretchers as a boat’s spotlight illuminated the chaotic scene.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the crash. Lanhsa has not immediately responded to requests for comment.
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Borjas stated that the survivors were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. He further confirmed that the aircraft went down shortly after departing from Roatan Island.
Roatan, the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands, is a popular tourist destination known for its vibrant coral reefs and marine biodiversity.
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Borjas noted that challenging terrain hindered the rescue operation.
“It’s been difficult to access the accident site because there are 30 meters (98 feet) of rocks, and you can’t reach it by walking or swimming,” he said.
