A horror plane crash in Honduras has killed 12 people after the aircraft plummeted into the water just minutes after takeoff.
The plane set off from Roatan Island on Monday evening, carrying 14 passengers and three crew members.
At 6:18pm local time, just moments after leaving Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport, the aircraft hit the water below.
The cause of the accident was not immediately clear and no confirmation has been given.
At 6:18pm, just moments after leaving Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport, the aircraft hit the water below
Reuters
Shocking footage shows the rescue teams getting survivors out of the water, with officers forming a line as they passed the victims from one to another
Reuters
One of the victims has been confirmed to be renowned musician and politician Aurelio Martinez Suazo.
Several US nationals, a French citizen, and two children were also amongst those killed in the air disaster, according to local media.
The National Police confirmed the number of deaths in a statement on social media. They said: “We are present in the rescue of the people affected in this plane accident. 12 people dead and five alive after plane crash in Roatan at this time, only one body remains to be recovered, and rescue teams continue their work.”
Multiple emergency services rushed to the scene, after an Emergency Operations Committee was set up to recover the survivors.
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Rescue teams work on rescuing victims of a plane crash near the International Airport of Roatan
Reuters
The site of the crash mapped
GETTY
Shocking footage shows the rescue teams getting survivors out of the water, with officers forming a line as they passed the victims from one to another.
Roatan fire captain Franklin Borjas revealed the difficult conditions rescuers have faced in locating survivors.
He said: “It's been difficult to access the accident (site) because there are 30 meters (98 feet) of rocks and you can't get there while walking or swimming.
“The divers helping with the rescue have zero visibility.”
Multiple emergency services rushed to the scene, after an Emergency Operations Committee was set up to recover the survivors
Reuters
The plane was set to fly to La Ceiba airport on the Honduran mainland.
Honduran President Xiomara Castro, who rushed to the scene, issued the following statement on social media: “I have immediately activated the Emergency Operations Committee (COE) team, comprised of the Armed Forces, the Honduran Fire Department, COPECO, the National Police, 911, the Red Cross, the Ministry of Health, and SAN.
“They have immediately arrived at the scene of the plane crash that occurred 1 km from Roatán International Airport and are tirelessly assisting in the unfortunate incident.”
