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.