Tegucigalpa (Honduras): Renowned musician and politician Aurelio Martinez Suazo (56) and 11 others are feared killed in a plane crash off the coast of Roatan Island in Honduras on Monday evening (Honduras local time).
The aircraft, operated by Honduran carrier Lanhsa, crashed into the sea minutes after taking off from Roatan Island, sources said. It was headed to La Ceiba airport on the Honduran mainland with 15 passengers and three crew members on board.
Five persons were rescued from the sea, but authorities confirmed that 12 – including Suazo – lost their lives. Suazo was well known for popularizing Garifuna music. His mother was a famous singer and Suazo took it upon himself to promote this brand of music across the world. He succeeded by fusing modern styles with traditional Garifuna music.
He also became the first person from the Garifuna community to be elected to the Honduran parliament.
Authorities said that rescue efforts were hampered due to 30 metres of rocks and zero visibility for divers. A probe has started but officials said that a ‘mechanical failure’ on the British-origin Jetstream 41 could have caused the crash.
The Honduran government has expressed solidarity with the families of the deceased and president Xiomara Castro has activated an emergency committee to assist the relatives of the victims of the accident.
