The crash took place shortly after the aircraft took off 🚨 😳Check the 1st comments👇

A small plane crashed into the Caribbean Sea off Roatan Island shortly after takeoff, killing at least 12 people. Officials say the aircraft veered sharply before plunging into the water. A fisherman narrowly avoided being hit.

Rescue efforts were hampered by rough terrain and zero visibility underwater, according to Roatan Fire Captain Franklin Borjas. Honduras President Xiomara Castro activated emergency response teams.

Among the victims was Honduran musician and politician Aurelio Martínez, a beloved figure in Garífuna culture. Belize’s foreign ministry paid tribute, calling him a “champion of Garífuna music.”

The crash, reportedly caused by mechanical failure, involved 14 people. The U.S. State Department confirmed one American was among the dead.