The crash off Roatan Island shattered what should have been an ordinary flight into a scene of chaos and grief. Witnesses described the plane veering sharply before plunging into the Caribbean, narrowly missing a nearby fisherman. Rescuers battled jagged rocks and zero visibility, forcing divers to work by touch alone as they searched for bodies and any faint sign of survivors. Above them, families gathered in shock, desperate for news that never came.
Among the victims was Aurelio Martínez, the celebrated Honduran musician and politician whose voice carried the soul of the Garífuna people to the world. Tributes poured in from across Central America, mourning not just a public figure but a cultural guardian. US officials confirmed American fatalities, while Honduras’ president activated emergency operations. Behind the official statements lies a quieter tragedy: empty seats at dinner tables and songs that will never be sung live again.
