Aircraft crash on Caribbean island kills at least 12 people, including popular Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez
At least 12 people, including a popular musician, died Monday when a small plane quickly crashed into the Caribbean after taking off from Roatan, Honduras, officials said. Lanhsa Airlines set off from Roatan, one of the major tourist attractions in Central American countries, to the port of La Ceiba in Honduras when nightfalls.
Civil aviation official Carlos Padilla said the plane “turned sharply to the right side of the runway,” said civil aviation official Carlos Padilla.
“The plane almost landed on us. I was fishing,” an unnamed fisherman told HCH TV.
Fire Department said 12 people were killed in the crash, while five others were rescued.
Honduras/Honduras policy through Reuters
The National Police Department dramatic video posted on social media showing rescuers bringing survivors to the rocky coast. Another video shows a similar scene, with police reporting that as the rescue team continues to search, only one body remains missing.
Honduran musician Aurelio Martinez is a popular member of the Garifuna music industry, according to local media reports, according to local media and one of their deceased. According to the Kennedy Center, Martinez founded the Lita Ariran ensemble, one of the first Garifuna groups to appear on internationally released albums.
“Martinez’s energy and passionate performances made him a pillar of La Cieba’s music scene, where he loved his most about his performance on Punta Rock, a high energy, a pop style that blends its roots, which suffered from Central America in the 1990s,” said Kennedy Center.
Mathew Imaging by Getty 
Wilmer Guerrero of the Fire Department said a 40-year-old French citizen was transferred to a hospital in the mainland’s San Pedro Sula.
According to police, 15 passengers were on the plane, and two pilots and a flight attendant were also on the plane.
Police statement said the crash occurred about half a mile from the island’s coast and was caused by a “obvious mechanical failure” of the British-made Jetstream 41.
Honduras President Xiomara Castro said she “immediately activates” an emergency committee composed of armed forces, firefighters and others to assist the accident victims.
