At least 12 dead after Honduras plane crashes into the water after takeoff

Rescue operations underway in the aftermath of a plane crash in location given as Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras in this screengrab from a handout video, date given as March 17, 2025. Policia Nacional de Honduras/Handout via REUTERS

TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) -A plane crashed just off the Caribbean coast of Honduras on Monday night minutes after taking off from Roatan Island, killing 12 people, authorities said, while five survived the crash and one person remains missing.

The wreckage of the small Jetstream aircraft, operated by Honduran airline Lanhsa, was found about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) off the island's coast, according to the country's transport minister.