A small plane crashed into the Caribbean Sea, claiming the lives of at least twelve people, including several U.S. citizens.
According to civil aviation official Carlos Padilla, the aircraft “made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water” just moments after takeoff, going down off the coast of Roatan Island.
A fisherman who saw the accident said he narrowly avoided being hit as the plane plunged into the sea.
Rescue teams searched the waters, with one body still yet to be recovered.
At least 7 people died, after a plane crashed (#PlaneCrash) into water, just off the Caribbean coast of #Honduras on Monday night minutes after taking off from #Roatan Island.
Around 10 people were pulled out from the Wreckage alive.
The Jetstream Aircraft… pic.twitter.com/0fH7z7nXUp
— Surya Reddy (@jsuryareddy) March 18, 2025
“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,” Roatan Fire Captain Franklin Borjas told the Daily Mail.
“The divers helping with the rescue have zero visibility.”
Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced that she has quickly mobilized an Emergency Operations Committee, bringing together multiple agencies to respond to the crash.
The country’s transport ministry reported that there were 14 people on board, including crew members.
One of the victims was Honduran musician and politician Aurelio Martínez.
Martínez was a prominent figure in the Garífuna music scene, representing the Afro-Indigenous community whose heritage traces back to St. Vincent.
Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade honored his memory, describing him as a “great friend of Belize and a true champion of Garífuna culture and music.”
Belize joins Honduras in mourning the passing of Aurelio Martínez Sauzo, one of six victims who perished in a plane crash near Roatán, Honduras.
Aurelio was a great friend of Belize and a true champion of Garífuna culture and music. As a renowned Garífuna musician, Aurelio was… pic.twitter.com/ST85A1n6P6
— Belize MFAFT 🇧🇿 (@MFABelize) March 18, 2025
“His passing leaves a void in the world of music and culture, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of all who loved his art and his people.”
According to reports, the plane crash was caused by a mechanical issue. The State Department has confirmed that an American citizen was among the victims and has expressed their condolences to the family.
