News
HND | Mar 18, 2025

At least 12 dead after Honduras plane crashes into the water after takeoff

/ Our Today

administrator
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Rescue teams work on rescuing victims of a plane crash near the International Airport of Roatan, in Roatan Island in this pictured obtained in March 17, 2025. Armed Forces of Honduras/Handout via REUTERS

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters)

A plane crashed just off the Caribbean coast of Honduras on Monday night minutes after taking off from Roatan Island, killing 12 people, authorities said, while five survived the crash and one person remains missing.

The wreckage of the small Jetstream aircraft, operated by Honduran airline Lanhsa, was found about 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) off the island’s coast, according to the country’s transport minister.

“At approximately 9 a.m. the recovery of the last victim of the accident will continue,” Honduras’ firefighters’ corps said on social media early on Tuesday. “We expect better weather and visibility.”

Rescue operations underway in the aftermath of a plane crash in location given as Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras in this screengrab from a handout video, date given as March 17, 2025. Policia Nacional de Honduras/Handout via REUTERS

According to the flight manifest shown by local media, the passengers included a U.S. national, a French national and two minors. The plane was scheduled to fly to La Ceiba airport on the Honduran mainland.

Well-known Garifuna musician Aurelio Martinez Suazo was among the dead, according to fire officials.

Dramatic video footage uploaded to social media by the national police showed officers and other rescue workers carrying survivors onto a rocky coastline, some in stretchers, as a nearby boat shone a bright light amid the darkness.

Rescue operations underway in the aftermath of a plane crash in location given as Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras in this screengrab from a handout video, date given as March 17, 2025. Policia Nacional de Honduras/Handout via REUTERS

The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. The airline did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Roatan fire captain Franklin Borjas told Reuters the survivors were transported to a nearby hospital, while also confirming that the crash took place shortly after the plane’s takeoff from the island.

Roatan, the largest of the Bay Islands just off the Honduran coast, is a popular tourist attraction and famed for its vibrant coral reefs.

Rescue operations in the aftermath of a plane crash in the surroundings of Roatan Island, Honduras, in this pictured obtained on March 17, 2025. National Police of Honduras/Handout via REUTERS

Borjas noted that adverse conditions complicated the search and rescue efforts.

“It’s been difficult to access the accident (site) because there are 30 meters (98 ft) of rocks and you can’t get there while walking or swimming,” he said on Monday night.

“The divers helping with the rescue have zero visibility,” he added.

Comments

What To Read Next