Tragic Plane Crash in Honduras Claims 12 Lives, Including Renowned Garifuna Musician Aurelio Martínez -

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March 18, Honduras: On Monday night, a devastating plane crash along the coast of Roatán, Honduras, killed at least 12 people, including renowned Garifuna musician and ex-congressman Aurelio Martínez. The Lanhsa Airlines Jetstream 41 aircraft, carrying 17 passengers and crew members, was en route from the popular tourist island of Roatán to La Ceiba on the Honduran mainland when it encountered an apparent mechanical failure shortly after takeoff, leading to its descent into the Caribbean Sea.

As told by civil aviation officer Carlos Padilla, the plane “made a sharp right turn off the runway and into the water.” The plane hit within inches of some eyewitnesses, including fishermen who were fishing. One fisherman said, “The plane almost fell on us. I was fishing.”

Emergency responders moved quickly to start rescue efforts, rescuing both victims and survivors from the crash. Dramatic video released by the national police showed rescue teams carrying a survivor on a stretcher onto the rocky beach. Five of the 17 passengers were rescued and taken to hospitals. Search and rescue operations were hampered by difficult terrain, 30 meters of rocks to be precise, which made access difficult both by walking and by swimming. The divers had to operate in conditions of zero visibility.

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Among the victims was Aurelio Martínez, a prominent figure in Garifuna music and culture. Born on September 26, 1969, in Plaplaya, Honduras, Martínez was deeply rooted in the Garifuna community—a people of mixed African and Indigenous heritage residing along the coasts of Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras. From a young age, Martínez showcased prodigious talent in percussion, performing at Garifuna ceremonies typically reserved for elders.

His musical voyage eventually prompted him to create the group Lita Ariran in the 1990s with mixed traditional Garifuna music rhythms and new styles. His solo career rose through award-winning discs like “Garifuna Soul,” “Laru Beya,” “Lándini,” and “Darandi” with which Garifuna music had reached listeners internationally. Collaboration with artists including Andy Palacio and Youssou N’Dour furthered further international knowledge about the genre.

Aside from music, Martínez was a historical figure as the first Afro-Honduran representative of the National Congress of Honduras, holding office from 2006 to 2010. As a congressman, he championed the cause of the rights and cultural integrity of the Garifuna, cementing his place in history as an artist and politician alike.

The unexpected death of Martínez has caused shockwaves in the Garifuna community and the global world music scene. His nephew, Ángel Aparicio Fernández Martínez, who was also a musician and used to perform with him, spoke in deep sorrow, saying, “He was the pillar of the family.”

tributes poured in from across the world celebrating Martínez’s contributions to culture and music. The Kennedy Center dubbed him a “prodigy of percussion” and a “major tradition-bearer of the Garifuna culture and music.” Music critics praised his work, with his album “Lándini” featuring as one of the top Latin American albums in a 2024 ranking of such works by Latin American music journalists.

Following the crash, Honduran President Xiomara Castro initiated emergency response procedures to aid victims and relatives. The Honduran Agency for Civil Aeronautics has initiated an investigation into the accident to establish the precise cause of the technical malfunction. Initial reports indicate that the aircraft was having problems after taking off, resulting in its deadly plunge into the ocean.