Caribbean Plane Crash Leaves 12 Dead, Including Famous Singer – Details

The Honduran Civil Aviation Agency (AHAC) confirmed that a plane crashed into the sea near Roatán at 6:18 p.m. on March 17, 2025, shortly after takeoff. The incident resulted in 12 deaths.

The Jetstream 32 aircraft, operated by Lanhsa, had departed from Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport and was heading to Guillermo Anderson Airport in La Ceiba. Onboard were 17 people, including two pilots, a flight attendant, and 14 passengers.

Preliminary reports indicate that the plane lost engine power due to an apparent mechanical failure. The aircraft crashed approximately one kilometer from the runway.

In response, AHAC activated the Search and Rescue Commission (SAR) to locate the occupants, while the National Police, through the Departmental Prevention Unit (UDEP-11) in Roatán, coordinated rescue operations alongside emergency teams and other response institutions.

According to El Heraldo on March 18, authorities identified renowned Garifuna singer Aurelio Martínez Suazo among the 12 victims of the crash. 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 also died, along with Mejía’s wife, Alba Rosa Acosta Torres, and their daughters, Rosmery Nicolle and Karla Abigail Mejía Acosta.

Authorities also confirmed the deaths of Nidia Miranda Benítez, Yeimi Alejandra Duarte Urribiera, Seida Siomara Torres, Angie Flores Hernández, and Andrea Abigail Flores Hernández.

In the wake of 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 worked closely with Suazo through Real World Records and the WOMAD festival, shared his sadness 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.

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 🕊️, [sic]” 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.”

Alemán explained that as he and Orellana neared the crash site, they initially came across the bodies of passengers who had not survived. However, as they moved closer to the wreckage, they began hearing the voices of survivors 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 deceased passengers, keeping the survivors safe on their boat until police and firefighters arrived. Another fisherman, identified as Rodolfo, rescued the fifth survivor and one more deceased passenger.

In total, five people survived the crash: Jayro Vargas Reyes, Luis Mejía Mejía, Helene Odile Guirvach, Liliana Rosa Estrada, and Alejandra Henríquez.

Alemán added that other fishermen soon joined the effort, helping recover additional victims. 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.

Further details on the victims’ conditions were reported by Tiempo. Forensic authorities confirmed that nine of the twelve bodies recovered from the crash site had been returned to families. The forensic report stated the causes of death 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.

The tragedy in Roatán marks the latest aviation incident in March. It follows a similar plane crash earlier this month in Pennsylvania.

Emergency crews responded on Sunday, March 9, after an aircraft went down at 3:18 p.m. in the parking lot of Brethren Village, a retirement community in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. Fire Chief Scott Little, alongside several officials, provided details on the crash and the number of people affected.

“The five passengers were the only individuals to sustain injuries and were transported for medical treatment. No individuals on the ground were injured. Additionally, there were no deaths,” officials stated in a press release shared on Facebook.

Newly released air traffic control audio revealed that the pilot reported an open door and requested permission to land. However, communication appeared to be a struggle. The pilot said, “Lancaster Tower, I cannot hear you with the wind, so we’re going to return to 26. We’re going to downwind.”

The air traffic controller later announced that the pilot was “clear to land” on runway 26. However, shortly after, the situation took a turn for the worse. The air traffic controller was then heard urgently saying, “Pull up. Rescue 1, Lancaster Tower. The aircraft is down just behind the terminal in the parking lot tree area.”

Meanwhile, witnesses saw the aircraft struggling before it crashed. Brian Pipkin reportedly told CNN that the plane climbed before suddenly turning left and nose-diving.

He ran to the crash site and saw the cockpit engulfed in flames. The heat, he said, felt “like opening an oven set to 500 degrees when you open the door and it hits your face.”

Pipkin described the intense heat as overwhelming as he moved closer to the wreckage. “I was getting closer, praying to God that nothing would blow up,” he recalled.

Emergency crews quickly arrived, extinguishing the flames and securing the area. Authorities confirmed that while no buildings were structurally damaged, several cars were affected.

Lancaster County’s Department of Public Safety assisted at the scene as officials transitioned into the Recovery and Investigation Phase. “The crash site remains secure while federal agencies conduct their investigation,” the officials noted.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated on X that the State Police were helping local first responders at the plane crash site near Lancaster Airport. “All Commonwealth resources are available as the response continues, and more information will be provided as it becomes available,” he added.

The Lancaster plane crash is the most recent in Pennsylvania. Back in January, a similar crash occurred in Northeast Philadelphia.

A doorbell camera in the area captured the terrifying moment a medical plane crashed onto a busy street, killing seven people, including a driver. The widely shared footage shows the impact and explosion as bystanders react in shock.

Recorded on January 31, the video shows two people standing outside talking, when a loud noise suddenly grabs their attention. They turn toward the sky just as an aircraft appears, plummeting rapidly before crashing nearby. The explosion briefly flashes white across the screen, followed by a thunderous blast. The witnesses rush inside for safety.

The chilling footage sparked widespread discussion, with many describing it as surreal and deeply unsettling. “So scary. It’s like a scene out of a movie. I can’t believe this happened. Praying for everyone,” one user said.

Another shared, “I know it was a plane, but it doesn’t look like it. I’m sure it was the cloud coverage, but he way it appears out of nowhere and spikes into the ground. It seems like it’s moving way faster than a small plane can.[sic]” Another exclaimed, “Can imagine that being the scariest thing ever!!!”

Many online viewers speculated about the crash, with some believing the plane was already on fire before impact. Others noted that a witness in the footage appeared to react to an unusual sound just before the aircraft went down.

Some described the video as one of the most horrifying they had ever seen, expressing concern for traumatized residents. Another expressed sympathy for the victims, especially after learning that a child was among those on board.

Meanwhile, some questioned the aircraft’s speed and trajectory, suggesting it was moving too fast for a typical small plane.

As reported by AP, authorities confirmed that the Learjet 55 was carrying six passengers from Mexico, including a child who had spent months receiving medical treatment. The plane took off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport but crashed just miles away.

The impact set off a massive fireball that damaged multiple vehicles and homes and shook the neighborhood. A person in a car was also killed, bringing the total death toll to seven.

The crash occurred just after 6 p.m. on Friday, less than three miles from the airport. Selkuc Koc, a waiter at a nearby diner, recalled hearing a loud boom and initially thinking it was a “thunderstorm.” When he looked outside, he saw thick smoke and flames rising into the air, comparing the scene to a gas station explosion.

The force of the blast was so strong that debris flew into nearby buildings. A diner customer was injured when a heavy metal object crashed through a window, adding to the chaos.

By Saturday morning, February 1, officials reported 19 injuries in addition to the fatalities. Most victims had been treated and released, but authorities warned that the casualty count could still change.

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said officials were still working to identify everyone who was on the streets when the crash happened, making it hard to confirm the final number of victims.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation, collecting debris and assessing damage across the four-to-six-block crash site. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy described it as a “high-impact crash” that left the aircraft “highly fragmented.”

At the time, investigators were still searching for the cockpit voice recorder, which could provide key insights into what happened. Given the force of the impact, officials feared it may be damaged or fragmented but remained hopeful it could be recovered and analyzed.

In addition to the mother and child reported by AP, Fox News identified the remaining people on board as the pilot, copilot, physician, and paramedic, all of whom were Mexican nationals.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the plane was en route to Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri before crashing shortly after takeoff. As investigators worked to determine the cause, an expert analyzed the footage and possible factors behind the accident.

“The plane was out of the crew’s control. It was not controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). May have been a mechanical malfunction of the stabilizer, elevator, trim or even a load shift rearward within the cabin,” said Retired Philadelphia pilot John Anderson.

Anderson suggested that if the aircraft carried a stretcher and it was not properly secured, it could have rolled backward, shifting the plane’s center of gravity. “This would cause the nose to raise and stall the wing. In that case, the nose will drop with the angle in the video,” he explained.

The former pilot also added, “Because it was right after takeoff and the initial climb, I would say it was likely aswing stall. There could be a number of factors that would cause a stall. Could have been a runaway trim, malfunctioning stabilizer.” Authorities will continue to investigate as they gather more evidence and assess the damage.

After the crash, publicly released audio recordings revealed the final moments before the Learjet 55 went down, as reported on February 3.

In the few minutes before the incident, air traffic controllers were heard communicating with the aircraft, at one point asking the pilot “what frequency” they were on. Moments later, a chilling moan was captured in the recording, presumably from the cockpit. Officials did not confirm any details about the source of the sound.

Following a brief pause, an air traffic controller asked, “What’s going on down there?” Another dispatcher responded, “We have a lost aircraft,” adding, “We’re not exactly sure what happened, we’re trying to figure it out. For now, the field is going to be closed.”

As the chilling audio circulated online, reactions poured in, with many fixated on the eerie moan heard just moments before the Philadelphia crash. One person was deeply unsettled, writing, “Someone can definitely be heard letting out a ‘moan’ in the released audio of the plane that crashed in Philadelphia very disturbing.”

One person confirmed hearing it too, “I heard the moan.” Another listener pointed out the timing, “Moaning sound not long after that.” The sound had a visceral effect on one user, who admitted, “The moan made my stomach turn and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. What on earth happened on that plane?!”

One particularly observant listener referenced a specific moment in the recording, “I hear it. It sounds like he is basically scared to death and let out a moan the type right before you start to cry @1:04 of the recording [sic].”

Another user has a powerful reaction, penning, “That’s haunting.” And for one user, the eerie moment was physically unsettling, as they shared, “I got goosebumps.”

At the time of publication, authorities were still investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash and were determined to find its cause. None of the six people on board the aircraft, operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, survived.

One of them was a young pediatric patient who was traveling back to Mexico after having just undergone life-saving medical treatment in the US. Shai Gold, a spokesman for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, confirmed the tragic news, sharing that the young girl had bravely battled her illness.

“She did her course of care. She was going home. She fought quite a lot to survive, and unfortunately, this tragedy on the way home,” said Gold. Shriners Children’s Philadelphia confirmed that the young girl was their patient but refrained from sharing further details due to privacy concerns.

Mel Bower, a spokesperson for Shriners Children’s Hospital Philadelphia, noted, “It’s extremely hard and extremely difficult, those that were involved directly in her care were very aware that she was going to be traveling home and there had actually been a sendoff for her today.”

Bower said that the young girl likely enjoyed her end-of-treatment celebration earlier on Friday. She spoke of the staff’s dedication to making the hospital a joyful and welcoming place for patients such as the girl.

The girl’s mother, along with a pilot, co-pilot, doctor, and paramedic, each committed to ensuring her safe return, were also on board the aircraft. However, in a heartbreaking turn of events, the journey ended in tragedy.

Shriners Children’s Philadelphia extended their condolences to the families of the medical crew, pilots, and those affected on the ground. The hospital also expressed gratitude to first responders for their swift actions.

The air ambulance was en route to Tijuana with a planned stop at Springfield-Branson National Airport in Missouri. Shortly after departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, the aircraft suddenly lost altitude and crashed into a densely populated area in northern Philadelphia at around 6:30 p.m.

An eye witness shared that the impact near Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard sparked a “big ball of fire,” engulfing nearby buildings and vehicles in flames. Another person who witnessed the crash noted that a gas station was shaking and debris started flying all over when the aircraft came down.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said on February 1 that officers and responders worked on the crash site throughout the night.

She confirmed that six lives on board the plane were lost as well as one person who was in a car when the aircraft crashed. Parker added that 19 people were injured in the incident and were being treated in local hospitals.