At Least 12 Lifeless After Passenger Jet Plunges into Caribbean Sea Close to Honduras: Police

At the least 12 individuals have died in a airplane crash in Honduras.

A jet carrying at the very least 15 passengers “crashed within the sea” shortly after taking off from the island of Roatán on Monday, March 17, the Honduras Nationwide Police introduced in a translated assertion on X.

The police confirmed that there to this point have been 12 fatalities. 5 others survived the crash and had been rescued by first responders.

“Right now, just one physique stays to be recovered, and rescue groups proceed their work,” the police mentioned.

CBS Information reported that the jet was Lanhsa Airways airplane.

Among the many lifeless is widespread singer Aurelio Martinez, 39, based on CBS Information.

Footage posted by the police on social media reveals rescue groups on the scene by the water rescuing survivors and placing them on stretchers whereas looking for others at night time. 

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The president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, wrote on X, “I’ve instantly activated the Emergency Operations Committee (COE) staff, comprised of the Armed Forces, the Honduran Hearth Division, COPECO, the Nationwide Police, 911, the Crimson Cross, the Ministry of Well being, and SAN.”

“They’ve instantly arrived on the scene of the airplane crash that occurred 1 km from Roatán Worldwide Airport and are tirelessly aiding within the unlucky incident,” she continued. “The general public hospitals in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba are actually able to deal with injured passengers.”

“Might God defend individuals’s lives,” Castro concluded.

PEOPLE has contacted Lansha Airways for remark.