Twelve dead including famous singer in plane crash off remote island

A small plane plunged into the Caribbean Sea, killing at least twelve people, including US citizens.

Civil aviation official Carlos Padilla explained the plane “made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water” moments after taking off and crashing off the coast of Roatan Island.

A fishermen who witnessed the crash said he avoided being struck by the plane as it feel into the sea.

“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 explained, as per the Daily Mail

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

Honduran President Xiomara Castro issued a statement saying she has rapidly put an Emergency Operations Committee into action, uniting different agencies.

According to the country’s transport ministry, there were 14 passengers on board, including members of the crew.Among those who lost their lives was Honduran musician and politician, Aurelio Martínez.

Martínez was a well-known voice in the Garífuna music scene, an Afro-Indigenous community with roots tracing back to St. Vincent.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belize paid tribute to Martínez, calling him a “great friend of Belize and a true champion of Garífuna culture and music.

“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.”

Reports are that the reason for the plane crash was a mechanical failure.
The State Department confirmed the death of an American citizen, extending their condolences to the family.
Note: We are reposting an article from 17 March 2025

The crash sent rescue teams toward a difficult stretch of water where darkness, rocks, and poor visibility complicated every part of the response. Divers and emergency crews worked in conditions that made even reaching the wreckage dangerous. Families waiting for information faced hours of uncertainty as officials tried to confirm the passenger list and recover those aboard.

For the Garífuna community, the loss of Aurelio Martínez carried particular weight. His music helped preserve and promote a cultural tradition rooted in history, language, rhythm, and collective memory. Listeners knew him not only as a performer, but as an ambassador whose work brought greater attention to Garífuna identity throughout Central America and beyond.

Tributes focused on the way Martínez connected art with public service. His songs carried stories across borders, while his political work gave him another way to represent the people and traditions that shaped him. The news of his death therefore reached far beyond the immediate scene of the crash.

Investigators were expected to examine the aircraft, the reported mechanical problem, weather conditions, and the moments immediately after takeoff. Establishing a precise cause can take time because evidence must be recovered, documented, and compared with maintenance and flight records.

As those questions are answered, the central tragedy remains the twelve lives lost. Each person aboard left relatives, friends, and communities confronting a sudden absence. The official investigation may explain how the plane went down, but it cannot measure the full impact of the loss on those who knew them.