Honduras Plane Crash Leaves 12 Dead, Including Beloved Garifuna Musician

A small commercial plane crashed into the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Honduras on Monday, killing at least 12 people, including renowned Garifuna musician Aurelio Martínez Suazo.

The Lanhsa Airlines flight took off from Roatán, a popular tourist destination, en route to La Ceiba on the mainland. Moments after departure, the British-made Jetstream 41 aircraft failed to gain full altitude, veered sharply, and plunged into the water about half a mile from shore.

Rescue Efforts

Out of the 17 people on board, five survived and were hospitalized. Dramatic videos posted online showed emergency workers carrying survivors onto the rocky coastline. Local fishermen played a crucial role in rescuing those who made it out alive.

Fire Captain Franklin Borjas described the rescue as extremely challenging due to rough terrain and near-zero underwater visibility.

Honduran President Xiomara Castro activated an emergency response team, including the military and firefighters, to assist in the aftermath.

A Nation Mourns

Among the victims was Aurelio Martínez, a beloved musician and cultural icon of the Garifuna community, known for blending traditional rhythms with contemporary influences like punta rock. He had toured worldwide and was widely regarded as a global ambassador for Garifuna music and heritage.

His nephew, Ángel Aparicio Fernández Martínez, who also performed alongside him, expressed the family’s heartbreak. “He was the pillar of our family,” he said.

The victims’ bodies were transported from Roatán to a morgue in San Pedro Sula as the Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency launched an investigation into the crash.