Search and rescue efforts continue after a plane went down near Honduras on March 17, 2025, resulting in the loss of several lives, including a well-known Garifuna singer.
The Honduran Civil Aviation Agency (AHAC) confirmed that the incident occurred at 6:18 p.m., shortly after the aircraft departed from Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport in Roatán. The Jetstream 32 aircraft was operating a commercial flight to Guillermo Anderson Airport in La Ceiba, carrying two crew members and 15 passengers.
Following the event, AHAC activated the Search and Rescue Commission (SAR) to locate the aircraft’s occupants. The agency also directed the Accident and Incident Investigation Commission to travel to the site and begin a preliminary investigation into the possible causes.
🚨 COMUNICADO OFICIAL 🚨
La AHAC informa sobre un accidente aéreo ocurrido en Roatán el 17 de marzo. Se han activado los protocolos de búsqueda y una investigación está en curso.
Más detalles en nuestro comunicado oficial. pic.twitter.com/h9OWQmXXKd
— Aeronáutica Civil Honduras (@aeronautica_hn) March 18, 2025
According to El Heraldo, authorities identified renowned Garifuna singer Aurelio Martínez Suazo among the 12 individuals who lost their lives. Rescuers recovered his body, still dressed in the yellow shirt and black shorts he had worn earlier that day while filming in Punta Gorda.
Co-pilot Francisco Lagos and passenger Carlos Edwin Mejía were also among those who did not survive, along with Mejía’s wife, Alba Rosa Acosta Torres, and their daughters, Rosmery Nicolle and Karla Abigail Mejía Acosta.
Authorities also confirmed the passing of Nidia Miranda Benítez, Yeimi Alejandra Duarte Urribiera, Seida Siomara Torres, Angie Flores Hernández, and Andrea Abigail Flores Hernández.
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In response to the tragedy, many of Suazo’s friends and fellow musicians expressed their grief and admiration for the late artist. British musician Peter Gabriel, who had collaborated with Suazo through Real World Records and the WOMAD festival, shared his condolences on X.
He remembered Suazo not only for his musical talent and dedication to Garifuna culture but also for his generosity and warmth, noting that his legacy would live on through his music.
I was very upset to learn of the death yesterday of Aurelio Martinez, one of our most popular @RealWorldRec artists, in a plane crash in the Caribbean. His music will, I am sure, live on with all its artistry, sensitivity and musicianship. The deep love he had for his own… pic.twitter.com/KtpKwM1tqo
— Peter Gabriel (@itspetergabriel) March 18, 2025
Similarly, singer Kezia Young reflected on her personal connection with Suazo on Facebook. She recalled how he supported and encouraged her throughout her career, often offering advice and cheering her on during performances.
“You inspired me with your advices and filled me with laughter. From I was 19 years old I have been watching you perform, and at 28 I graced the stage with you and it was amazing! I can’t believe you are gone. This one hurts 💔 Fly high King 🕊️,” she wrote.
In a recent post before the crash, Suazo announced plans to travel to New Orleans for a Garifuna heritage event on April 5. Back in February, he also released a new single titled “Landini.”
Eyewitness accounts have provided further details about the crash. As reported by El Heraldo, fishermen Aldair Alemán and Edy Orellana were at sea when they saw the aircraft.
Alemán recalled, “We were fishing toward the fishing grounds, and at that moment we saw a plane take off, and just as quickly as it took off, it went down. We only heard the roar about 100 meters away… it almost hit us, but thank God it didn’t.”
As they neared the site, they initially came across individuals who did not survive. However, as they moved closer to the wreckage, they heard voices calling out for assistance.
Alemán added that they prioritized rescuing those still alive. “We opted to rescue the living first, because although we found the dead first, the dead were a priority, but those with a chance of survival were a higher priority,” he said.
Alemán and Orellana managed to rescue four survivors and recover four individuals, keeping the survivors safe on their boat until police and firefighters arrived. Another fisherman, identified as Rodolfo, rescued the fifth survivor and another individual.
In total, five people survived: Jayro Vargas Reyes, Luis Mejía Mejía, Helene Odile Guirvach, Liliana Rosa Estrada, and Alejandra Henríquez.
VIDEO | Así fue el traslado de pacientes al Hospital Mario Catarino Rivas de San Pedro Sula tras el trágico accidente en el aeropuerto de Roatán, Islas de la Bahía, donde un avión se salió de la pista y cayó al mar, dejando 12 fallecidos, 5 sobrevivientes y 1 desaparecido.… pic.twitter.com/Znrkuacpcz
— Radio América HN (@radioamericahn) March 18, 2025
Alemán added that other fishermen soon joined the effort, helping recover additional individuals. They lent their boats to assist the rescue teams as waves and darkness made the task challenging. He described the victims as having visible injuries and noted that they carefully retrieved each body to avoid capsizing their boats.
Rescuers estimated that the wreckage lay at a depth of around 50 meters, requiring specialized divers to continue recovery efforts. Survivors and victims were initially taken to Roatán’s public hospital. Due to limited resources, the survivors were later airlifted to hospitals in La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula.
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Further details on the individuals involved were reported by Tiempo. Forensic authorities confirmed that nine of the twelve individuals recovered had been returned to families. The forensic report stated the primary causes of fatal injuries were cerebral hemorrhage from blunt force trauma and asphyxiation due to drowning.
AHAC reaffirmed its commitment to operational safety and announced it will submit a detailed report based on the investigation’s findings, in adherence to national and international aviation regulations.
Source: news.amomama.com