Aerolínea Lanhsa Flight 018, a British Aerospace Jetstream, was a Honduran charter flight to carry passengers from Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport, on Roatán Island, department of Islas de la Bahía, to Golosón International Airport in

La Ceiba La Ceiba () is a municipality, the capital of the Honduran department of Atlántida (department), Atlántida, and a port city on the northern Caribbean coast in Honduras. It forms part of the southeastern boundary of the Gulf of Honduras. With ...

, department of Atlántida. The aircraft crashed into the sea at 18:18 local time after overshooting the runway on takeoff, killing 13 of the 18 passengers and crew, including Honduran singer and politician Aurelio Martínez. The wreckage was found one kilometer (0.62 miles) off the coast according to the authorities.

Background

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a 35-year old British Aerospace Jetstream 32 powered by twin Honeywell TPE331 turboprop engines registered as HR-AYW and operated by Honduran airline Aerolínea Lanhsa.

Passengers and crew

There were 18 people on board, three crew and 15 passengers. A French woman and an American were among the passengers. All of the victims were Hondurans. The flight crew consisted of pilot Luis Ángel Araya, co-pilot Francisco Lagos and a flight attendant. Musician and former congressman Aurelio Martínez, one of the victims, was on board the aircraft. Of the five rescued people, all were sent to a hospital, including a man with a fractured shinbone and minor head trauma.

Accident

The aircraft took off from runway 07 at Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport for its flight to Golosón International Airport. The aircraft experienced a suspected mechanical failure one minute after takeoff then made a right turn and impacted water about one kilometer from the coastline. Local authorities reported that one of the plane's engines lost power before impacting the sea. The aircraft was submerged about in an area with rocky seabed, making it difficult for rescuers to reach. The last passenger's body, a woman travelling with her husband was recovered the day after the accident. Her husband survived and was taken to a hospital.

Reactions

The Government of Honduras said in a statement that it "deeply regrets the tragic accident in Roatán and joins in the national mourning". President Xiomara Castro activated an emergency committee after the accident. The bodies of the victims were taken to a morgue in

San Pedro Sula San Pedro Sula () is the capital of Cortés Department, Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country in the Sula Valley, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean Sea. With a population of 701, ...

Aftermath

Because of the crash of Flight 018, Aerolínea Lanhsa ceased all operations in April 2025.

References

2025 disasters in North America 2025 in Honduras March 2025 in South America Aviation accidents and incidents in 2025 Aviation accidents and incidents in Honduras Airliner accidents and incidents involving runway overruns Accidents and incidents involving the British Aerospace Jetstream Roatán {{Honduras-stub