A tragic plane crash off the coast of Roatán Island in Honduras killed at least twelve people, including several U.S. citizens.
Civil aviation official Carlos Padilla said the aircraft “made a sharp turn to the right of the runway and fell into the water” shortly after takeoff. A nearby fisherman narrowly escaped being hit when the plane plunged into the sea.
Rescue operations proved difficult due to rough terrain and poor visibility. Roatán Fire Captain Franklin Borjas explained, “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.” He added, “The divers helping with the rescue have zero visibility.”
Authorities struggled to reach the wreckage as emergency crews and divers worked under challenging conditions.
Honduran President Xiomara Castro confirmed she has activated an Emergency Operations Committee “uniting different agencies” to coordinate rescue and recovery efforts.
