A Cessna (initially identified by numerous media sources as a
C-208, but now ID'd in photos as a C-206) carrying Honduran
President Ricardo Maduro splashed into the Caribbean Sea near the
shore Sunday after an engine failure. The accident happened just
short of the runway at Tela, a popular tourist spot 155 miles north
of the capitol city of Tegucigalpa.
Local residents helped Maduro, 59, his daughter, Lorena, and the
pilot from the water. "The airplane had a mechanical problem and
fell into the sea, just beyond the end of the runway at Tela, a
city on the Caribbean coast, "said presidential spokesman Jorge
Barrios to the AP. "It is believed that the plane's engine stopped
when it was making its approach for landing."
Barrios said Maduro would hold a news conference when he
returned to the capitol. Reportedly suffering from some bruises,
"The president is recovering at a hospital in Comayagua," added
The plane sank into the water where the accident occurred, and
it appeared that the three were the only people aboard the
single-engine Caravan. Maduro was on his way to meet Tela Mayor
Daniel Flores about a government development project.