The sea swallowed the plane in seconds. Screams, then silence. Off Roatán Island, Honduras, a short flight turned into a national nightmare as a small passenger aircraft plunged into the water moments after takeoff, killing multiple people and shattering families. Among the dead: children, tourists, and a world-famous musician whose songs once gave vo…

Waves now wash over twisted metal off Roatán’s shore, where a routine hop to La Ceiba became one of Honduras’s darkest aviation tragedies. The Lanhsa flight, carrying fourteen passengers and three crew, barely cleared the coastline before witnesses saw it falter and drop into the sea. Rescue boats rushed out, but for several on board, help came too late. Two children, a French traveler, a U.S. national, and Honduran citizens were among the dead, each name now echoing through devastated homes.

The loss of internationally acclaimed Garifuna musician Aurelio Martínez has deepened the country’s grief. His music carried the soul of his people far beyond Honduras; now fans worldwide share tributes and songs in his memory. As recovery teams comb the wreckage and aviation experts probe weather, maintenance, and pilot reports, officials promise answers. For now, Roatán holds its breath, caught between sorrow and the need to know why.