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Tragic Plane Crash Claims Lives off Honduras’ Coast
Officials confirmed that at least 12 individuals lost their lives following a plane crash off the Caribbean coast of Honduras on Monday evening.
The aircraft, operated by Lanhsa, a Honduran airline, went down in the ocean shortly after taking off from the island of Roatán, crashing within just one minute of departure.
Rescue efforts have led to the recovery of five individuals, according to separate reports from the Honduran national police and fire department. Sadly, one person is still unaccounted for.
The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time. However, the mayor of Roatán indicated that adverse weather conditions were not a factor, noting that the weather was clear. The Honduran Civil Aeronautics Agency has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
The Jetstream 32 aircraft had lifted off from Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport at approximately 18:18 local time (00:18 GMT) and was en route to Golosón International Airport in La Ceiba, located on the Honduran mainland.
Carlos Padilla, a civil aviation official, stated, as reported by AFP, that the plane “made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water.”
In response to the tragic accident, the Honduran government expressed its “solidarity” with the families of those affected through a statement on social media. “The Government of Honduras deeply regrets the tragic accident in Roatán and joins in the national mourning,” the statement read.
Following the crash, President Xiomara Castro swiftly activated the country’s emergency committee, which includes representatives from various emergency services such as the military, police, fire department, Red Cross, and the Ministry of Health.
In her update on X, she emphasized that the emergency team was “working tirelessly” to support those impacted by the disaster. “May God protect people’s lives,” she added.
Videos released by officials on social media depicted rescue teams operating in the dark along the rocky shoreline, utilizing small boats and stretchers to assist the victims.
The Honduran armed forces later reported on X, sharing photos, that survivors with injuries were airlifted to a hospital in the city of San Pedro Sula.
Reports from local media indicated that one of the deceased was the notable Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez Suazo. Suazo, recognized for his contributions to music, hailed from the Garifuna community, an ethnic group of mixed indigenous and Afro-Caribbean ancestry originating from St. Vincent, known for its unique musical heritage.
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