Famous Singer Among 12 Dead In Devastating Plane Crash Near Remote Island

Devastating crash of an airplane At least 12 people have been killed off off the coast of Roatan, Honduras, including American citizen and beloved Honduras musician and politician Aurelio Martinez.

Lancea’s jetstream aircraft had just taken off from Roatan, a popular Caribbean tourist destination on Monday night, and reportedly suffered a mechanical breakdown and jumped into the sea just minutes later.

Honduras authorities said the aircraft carried 14 passengers and three crew members. Five survivors have been rescued from the wreckage, but one remains unrecorded as the search efforts continue.

Among the deceased is Aurelio Martinez (56), a legendary Galifuna musician and politician whose influence on Honduras culture was widely recognized.

Martinez was a famous voice in the Garifuna music scene, an Afroinsignia community with roots dating back to St. Vincent, where its ancestors were exiled to Honduras in the 18th century. According to the Kennedy Center, his group, Rita Arirang, was one of the first Garifna bands to achieve international recognition.

Later in his career, Martinez moved into politics and represented the Honduras National Congress.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in Belize were among those who called him “a great friend of Belize and a true champion of Garifna culture and music.”

“His passing leaves a blank in the world of music and culture, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of all who loved his art and his people.”

The flight manifesto revealed that passengers include American citizens, French citizens and two minors.

A State Department spokesman later confirmed the death of the American citizen and expressed his sadness to all the victims’ families. “We express our deep sadness to the families of the victims and all affected people,” the statement read. “We respect the privacy of our family and loved ones during these difficult times and have no further comments.”

One of the survivors, a 40-year-old French citizen, reportedly was transferred to a hospital in San Pedrosura for treatment.

Civil aviation officer Carlos Padilla explained how the aircraft took off, turned right and struck water about half a mile from the island’s shore.

Local fishermen who were out at the sea at the time narrowly avoided being hit by falling planes.

“The plane almost fell on us. I was fishing,” he told HCH TV on CBS by CBS.

Authorities continue to search for the remaining victim, but challenging underwater conditions has been complicated.

“As there is a 30-meter (98-foot) rock, access to the accident scene was difficult. Walking or swimming won’t allow you to get there,” explained Rotanfire Captain Franklin Borjas.

“Divers helping with the rescue have zero visibility.”

Dramatic footage from the scene showed rescuers desperately searching for water for the survivors. One video called “rescue” by staff captured the moment the woman was pulled out of the ocean on a stretcher, but in her condition no further updates were provided.

In response to the tragedy, Honduras President Xiomara Castro issued a statement confirming it had “quickly revitalized” the Emergency Business Committee to handle the crisis.

Roatan, the largest of the Honduras Bay Islands, is a major tourist hub known for its stunning coral reefs and untouched beaches.

Authorities continue to investigate the causes of the crash as the nation lamented the lives lost in this devastating tragedy.

The US has experienced a sharp rise in fatal plane crash drops in 2025, expressing concerns about changes in aviation safety. So far, 19 fatal aviation accidents have occurred, with at least 106 deaths.

Before 2025, the last fatal crash of a US passenger aircraft occurred in 2009. While common aviation accidents (such as small civilian planes) have explained most fatal crashes in recent years, this year’s incidents have caused alarms due to frequency and impact.

The NTSB has confirmed that preliminary reports of each airline accident in 2025 will be released within 30 days of the incident. However, a complete investigation to determine possible causes and contributing factors takes 12-24 months to complete.

Safety concerns remain high following an unexpected surge in fatal US plane crashes this year as aviation authorities continue to investigate.