A horror plane crash has killed a popular singer and 11 others onboard just off the Caribbean coast of Honduras.
The aircraft was carrying 17 people, including musician and politician Aurelio Martinez Suazo, when the plane took off from Roatan Island on Monday and went down shortly after at around 6pm.
The National Police confirmed the number of deaths in a statement on social media. They said: “We are present in the rescue of the people affected in this plane accident. 12 people dead and five alive after plane crash in Roatan at this time, only one body remains to be recovered, and rescue teams continue their work.”
Officials released harrowing footage which showed rescue teams as they saved the survivors from drowning. In the clip, officers formed a line as they passed the victims to each other and carried them out of the sea. According to the country’s transport minister, the wreckage was discovered around 1 kilometer off the island’s coast. Shocking images showed the aftermath of the disaster as emergency services rushed to the scene.
A huge multi-agency response was pictured after a Emergency Operations Committee was set up to recover the survivors. Roatan fire captain Franklin Borjas confirmed the deaths and explained the rescue efforts. He said: “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. The divers helping with the rescue have zero visibility.”
The National Emergency System also addressed the incident on social media and said: “The National Emergency System 911, by order of the president and in coordination with the Ministry of Health, continues to provide support in this emergency. The last flight arrived with two more injured, bringing the total to five people transported to San Pedro Sula for medical attention. So far, 12 deaths, 5 survivors and 1 missing person have been confirmed.”
According to the New York Times, two children were onboard at the time of the crash. A U.S. national and a French national were also onboard. The plane was set to fly to La Ceiba airport on the Honduran mainland.
Honduran President Xiomara Castro rushed to the scene. She wrote an emotional statement and explained that emergency crews are working hard to find the remaining missing person. She issued a statement on Twitter and said: “I have immediately activated the Emergency Operations Committee (COE) team, comprised of the Armed Forces, the Honduran Fire Department, COPECO, the National Police, 911, the Red Cross, the Ministry of Health, and SAN.
“They have immediately arrived at the scene of the plane crash that occurred 1 km from Roatán International Airport and are tirelessly assisting in the unfortunate incident. The public hospitals in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba are now ready to treat injured passengers. May God protect people’s lives.”
Roatán Island is a popular holiday destination and attracts divers due to its beautiful coral reefs. The island is around 35 miles from the Honduran mainland. The civil aeronautics agency announced that an investigation has been launched. It remains unclear what caused the tragedy.
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