At Least 12 Killed as Plane Loses Control, Crashes into Caribbean Sea Shortly After Take off
- A devastating plane crash has left at least 12 people dead, including renowned musician and politician
- The Lanhsa Airlines Jetstream aircraft plunged into the Caribbean Sea just minutes after takeoff from Roatan, reportedly due to mechanical failure
- Dramatic rescue efforts saved five survivors, while authorities continue searching for the last missing victim
At least 12 people lost their lives when a small plane plunged into the Caribbean Sea shortly after taking off from the Honduran island of Roatan.
Source: UGC
The tragic crash involved a mainland-bound Jetstream aircraft operated by Lanhsa Airlines, which was carrying 14 passengers and three crew members.
How many people were rescued from Lanhsa Airlines?
Honduran transport minister confirmed that the wreckage was found approximately 0.6 miles off the island's coast.
Authorities reported that the aircraft suffered an "apparent mechanical failure" that caused it to spiral into the sea.
Daily Mail reports that five people were rescued, while the remaining twelve were pronounced dead at the scene.
Carlos Padilla, a civil aviation official, described how the aircraft took off, but then "made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water."
A local fisherman, who was in the area at the time, told the media that he narrowly avoided being struck by the falling plane.
"The plane almost fell on us. I was fishing," he recounted.
Politician Aurelio Martinez killed in crash
Among those killed was Honduran musician and politician Aurelio Martinez, a beloved figure in the Garifuna music scene.
Martinez, 56, was renowned for his contributions to Garifuna culture, an Afro-indigenous community with roots tracing back to St Vincent.
His group, Lita Ariran, was one of the first Garifuna musical acts to gain international recognition, according to the Kennedy Center.
He later transitioned into politics and served as a representative in the Honduran National Congress.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belize paid tribute to him, stating:
"Aurelio was a great friend of Belize and a true champion of Garífuna culture and music."
Source: UGC
Why rescuers struggled to access crash site
Honduran police have confirmed that at least one crew member's body has been recovered, while dramatic footage from the scene showed rescue workers searching the water for survivors.
One video, described by officials as a "rescue," depicted a woman being stretchered out of the sea. However, no further details on her condition have been released.
Roatan Fire Captain Franklin Borjas highlighted the challenges of the operation, explaining:
"It's been difficult to access the accident site because there are 30 meters (98 feet) of rocks, and you can't get there while walking or swimming. The divers helping with the rescue have zero visibility."
The flight manifest, as seen in local media reports, indicated that the passengers included a US national, a French national, and two minors.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the accident.
20-year-old student pilot dies in Voi plane crash
In an unrelated story, family and friends of Issa Chaka Barua are mourning the promising 20-year-old trainee pilot whose dreams were cut short in a tragic plane crash in Voi.
Issa, a student at the Kenya School of Flying in Malindi, was on a solo cross-counties flight when his Cessna C152 went down during an attempted landing at Ikanga Airstrip.
His demised sparked calls for an investigation into aviation training safety, as several incidences of plane crashes have been reported recently.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
