A fatal air accident off the shore of Honduran island of Roatan killed at least 12 individuals, among them prominent Garifuna singer Aurelio Martinez, government authorities confirmed on Monday.
The crash occurred just moments after a Lanhsa Airlines aircraft had taken off at dusk, bound for La Ceiba on the Honduran coast. The departure location of the doomed flight was Roatan, a stunning beach and active tourist town.
The aircraft “took a sharp right turn off the runway and went into the water,” civil aviation official Carlos Padilla stated. Eyewitnesses described the terrifying moment, including one of the local fishermen who recounted how the aircraft almost fell on him when he was out at sea fishing. “The aircraft nearly crashed on us. I was fishing,” he told HCH television.
Rescue Efforts and Casualties
The Honduran fire department stated that 12 people lost their lives in the crash, with five others being rescued from the wreckage after being removed from it.
Disturbing video released on social media by the national police showed rescuers carrying survivors on stretchers down the rocky beach. The police also indicated that only a single missing body remained as the search operation was conducted overnight.
Among the 18 individuals on board the flight were 15 passengers, two pilots, and a single flight attendant. One of the hurt survivors—a 40-year-old French national—was evacuated to San Pedro Sula hospital for treatment, according to Major Wilmer Guerrero of the fire department.
A Nation Mourns Aurelio Martinez
Among the worst of the crash losses was Honduran singer Aurelio Martinez, a well-known figure in Honduran and Garifuna music. His death, verified by local reports, left communities across Central America and indeed the entire world in shock.
Martinez, celebrated for his virtuosity and roots in his tradition, was a mainstay of the La Ceiba music scene. He popularized the signature “punta rock” sound—a frenzied mix of traditional Garifuna rhythms and contemporary sounds that captivated audiences across the 1990s.
According to the Kennedy Center, Martinez also founded the Lita Ariran ensemble, one of the earliest Garifuna bands to become globally renowned. His musical and cultural body of work is one that will deeply influence generations to come.
Cause of the Crash and Government Response
Early reports indicate that an “obvious mechanical failure” of the United Kingdom-made Jetstream 41 plane was responsible for making the aircraft crash approximately half a mile off Roatan’s shore.
Soon after the disaster, Honduran President Xiomara Castro ordered the instantaneous deployment of an emergency response team made up of the armed forces, firemen, and other agencies to attend to the victims and their families.
A Sobering Reminder
This sad incident is a reality check regarding the fragility of life and the highest importance of aviation security. As the probe continues, the nation laments the loss of lives—especially that of a legend whose songs have inspired so many.
Rest in peace, victims who lost their lives in the plane crash. And comfort their families in the coming days.
