A plane crashed off the Caribbean coast of Honduras on Monday night, shortly after departing from Roatan Island, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals, with five survivors and one person still missing, as reported by authorities.
The small Jetstream aircraft, operated by Honduran airline Lanhsa, was located approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the island's coastline, according to the country's transport minister. Honduras' firefighters' corps announced plans to continue recovering the last victim at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, hoping for improved weather conditions and visibility.
Among those on board, a U.S. national, a French national, and two minors were listed on the flight manifest. The aircraft was en route to La Ceiba airport on the Honduran mainland.
Tragically, Garifuna musician Aurelio Martinez Suazo was confirmed deceased by fire officials.
Footage shared on social media by the national police depicted the dramatic rescue efforts of survivors being carried to shore, some on stretchers, illuminated by a bright light from a nearby boat in the darkness.
The cause of the crash remains unclear as the airline has not yet provided a statement in response to inquiries.
Roatan fire captain Franklin Borjas conveyed that survivors were taken to a nearby hospital and revealed that the crash occurred shortly after takeoff from the island. Roatan, the largest of the Bay Islands near the Honduran shore, is renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and attracts numerous tourists.
Borjas acknowledged the challenging search and rescue operations due to adverse conditions, stating, "It's been difficult to access the accident site due to a rocky terrain of 30 meters (98 ft) that prevents on-foot or swimming access." He further noted, "The divers assisting in the rescue face zero visibility conditions."