Plane Crash Kills Popular Honduran Musician Aurelio Martinez in Caribbean Sea

At least 12 people, including popular musician Aurelio Martínez, lost their lives on Monday when a small plane crashed into the Caribbean Sea shortly after takeoff from the Honduran island of Roatan. The Lanhsa Airlines plane departed at nightfall from Roatan, one of Honduras's main tourist destinations, bound for the port city of La Ceiba on the Honduran mainland.

According to civil aviation official Carlos Padilla, "The aircraft made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water." A fisherman who witnessed the incident told HCH television, "The plane almost fell on us. I was fishing."

Rescue Efforts and Aftermath

A dramatic video posted to social media by the national police showed rescue workers carrying a survivor on a stretcher onto the rocky shore. Another video depicted a similar scene, with police reporting that only one body remained missing as rescue teams continued their search.

Roatan fire captain Franklin Borjas informed Reuters that survivors were transported to a nearby hospital but did not disclose any information about their conditions. He also explained to Reuters that the search and rescue efforts were hindered by the terrain.

"It's been difficult to access the accident (site) because there are 30 meters of rocks and you can't get there while walking or swimming," Borjas told Reuters. "The divers helping with the rescue have zero visibility."

Victims and Survivors

Among the victims was Aurelio Martínez, a former member of Congress and a prominent figure in Honduras' Garifuna ethnic group, which has mixed African and Indigenous heritage. Martínez also held U.S. citizenship. His representative, Helene Odile Guivarch, a French citizen, was among the survivors.

Martínez hailed from Honduras' Gracias a Dios region along the country's Caribbean coast. His nephew Ángel Aparicio Fernández Martínez, who is also a musician and played with his uncle, expressed their devastation on Tuesday. He described Aurelio as "the family's pillar."

Aurelio Martinez: A Musical Legacy

Martínez was a member of the musical group Los Gatos Bravos before forming his own band, Lita Ariran. His debut album "Garifuna Soul" propelled him to international recognition, taking him to Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world.

"He was the greatest model from Honduras of Garifuna music on a worldwide stage," his nephew stated. Martínez's exceptional musicianship and passionate performances earned him a place as a mainstay in La Cieba's music scene. He was particularly beloved for his interpretations of punta rock, the high-energy, Garifuna roots-infused pop genre that swept through Central America in the 1990s.

The Kennedy Center acknowledged Martínez's influence, stating, "Martinez's virtuosic musicianship and passionate performances made him a mainstay of the La Cieba music scene, where he was best loved for his take on punta rock, the high-energy, Garifuna roots-infused pop genre that took Central America by storm in the 1990s."

The Crash

According to police, the plane carried 17 passengers and crew—fifteen passengers, two pilots, and a flight attendant. The crash occurred approximately half a mile from the island's coast and was attributed to an "apparent mechanical failure" on the British-made Jetstream 41, as stated in the police report.

Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced that she had "immediately activated" an emergency committee comprising the armed forces, firefighters, and other personnel to assist the victims of the accident. The Associated Press contributed to this report.