Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Honduras crash: Five foreign tourists killed in private plane

Officials give conflicting accounts of victims' nationalities 

Chiara Giordano
Sunday 19 May 2019 08:57 BST
Comments
Honduras firefighter at the scene where a private plane carrying foreign tourists crashed into the seat at the Isla Bonita Area, in Roatan, Honduras, on 18 May 2019.
Honduras firefighter at the scene where a private plane carrying foreign tourists crashed into the seat at the Isla Bonita Area, in Roatan, Honduras, on 18 May 2019. (HO/Honduras Fire Department/AFP/Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Five tourists and a pilot have been killed after a private plane crashed into the sea in Honduras.

The light aircraft came down shortly after take-off on Saturday from Roatán island – a popular tourist destination on the Atlantic coast.

Officials gave conflicting accounts of the victims’ nationalities.

Armed forces spokesman Jose Domingo Meza said four of the victims were from the United States and the fifth victim’s nationality was yet to be determined.

However emergency services initially said the victims included four Canadians and another victim of unknown nationality.

Local authorities did not immediately give a cause for the crash.

The Piper PA-32-260 plane was headed to the tourist port city of Trujillo, about 49 miles from Roatán, a picturesque island frequented by tourists from the United States, Canada and Europe, authorities said.

Reuters contributed to this report

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in