Tragic Caribbean Plane Crash Kills At Least 12, Including Popular Musician

Aurelio Martinez: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert YouTube

A tragic plane crash on Monday claimed the lives of 12 people, including renowned musician and Honduran politician Aurelio Martínez.

According to Honduras’ civil aeronautics agency, the accident occurred on March 17 at approximately 6 p.m. local time at Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport on the island of Roatán. A Jetstream 32 aircraft, carrying 15 passengers and two crew members, was en route to La Ceiba, a coastal city in northern Honduras, when it went down.

Shortly after takeoff, the plane plunged into the Caribbean Sea. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the crash, as investigations are ongoing, per USA Today.

The National Police of Honduras announced via social media that only five of the 17 individuals aboard the aircraft survived the initial impact. The British-made Jetstream 41 experienced an “apparent mechanical failure” before crashing into the sea just half a mile off the island’s coast, according to a statement from police.

Rescue and recovery operations extended into Tuesday morning, with first responders continuing their efforts along the rugged shoreline. As of 10 a.m. local time, the agency shared images of emergency teams at the scene. Local fishermen near the crash site also played a role in assisting the survivors, according to reports from local media.

In a dramatic video shared on social media by the national police, emergency crews were seen carrying a survivor on a stretcher onto the rocky shore, while the fire department rescued five people, according to the New York Post.

Aurelio Martínez, 55,a celebrated Honduran musician and influential figure in the Garifuna music scene, was among those who lost their lives in the crash, his record label confirmed in a statement on Tuesday. In addition to his musical legacy, Martínez made history as the first Afro-Honduran to serve in the National Congress of Honduras.

The musician was born in 1969 in the coastal town of Plaplaya.  Martinez was a proud representative of the Garifuna community, a people of African and Indigenous descent with a rich cultural heritage.

 

Martínez gained international recognition for his mastery of traditional Garifuna music, blending ancestral rhythms with contemporary sounds. His work helped preserve and promote the unique Afro-Caribbean culture of his people. He was a highly respected performer, known for his soulful vocals and skilled guitar playing, and his music resonated far beyond Honduras, earning him a global audience.

Beyond music, Martínez made history in 2006 when he became the first Afro-Honduran elected to the National Congress of Honduras. As a politician, he was a fierce advocate for the rights and recognition of the Garifuna people, working to uplift marginalized communities.