TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras: A aircraft crashed simply off the Caribbean coast of Honduras on Monday (Mar 17) evening minutes after taking off from Roatan Island, killing seven individuals, whereas 10 others have been pulled out from the wreckage alive, authorities stated.
The Jetstream plane operated by Honduran airline Lanhsa was carrying 14 passengers and three crew members, in response to the nation’s transport minister, who stated the wreckage was discovered about 1km off the island’s coast.
In line with the flight manifest proven by native media, the passengers included a United States nationwide, a French nationwide and two minors. The aircraft was scheduled to fly to La Ceiba airport on the Honduran mainland.
Roatan hearth captain Franklin Borjas confirmed the loss of life toll, whereas each police and hearth officers detailed the rescue efforts underway.
Nicely-known Garifuna musician Aurelio Martinez Suazo was among the many useless, in response to hearth officers.
Dramatic video uploaded to social media by the nationwide police confirmed officers and different rescue staff carrying survivors onto a rocky shoreline, some in stretchers, as a close-by boat shone a vibrant gentle amid the darkness.
The reason for the crash was not instantly clear. The airline didn’t reply instantly to a request for remark.
Borjas instructed Reuters the survivors have been transported to a close-by hospital, whereas additionally confirming that the crash befell shortly after the aircraft’s takeoff from the island.
Roatan, the most important of the Bay Islands simply off the Honduran coast, is a well-liked vacationer attraction and is famed for its vibrant coral reefs.
Borjas famous that hostile circumstances difficult the search and rescue efforts.
“It has been troublesome to entry the accident (website) as a result of there are 30m of rocks and you’ll’t get there whereas strolling or swimming,” he stated.
“The divers serving to with the rescue have zero visibility,” he added.
