Roatán (Honduras) - Several people have died in a terrible plane crash in Honduras. Shortly after take-off, the plane fell into the water and a dramatic fight for survival began.

A total of 17 people were on board the plane, which took off from the island of Roatán on Monday and was only supposed to fly to the nearby town of La Ceiba.

However, this did not happen, as shortly after take-off at around 6 p.m. (local time), the plane fell into the water for reasons that are as yet unexplained - just one kilometer from the mainland.

The plane "made a sharp turn to the right off the runway and crashed into the water," civil aviation commissioner Carlos Padilla told AFP.

"The plane almost fell on us. I was fishing," a fisherman told local television station HCH.

Rescue workers, who immediately rushed to help, were still trying to save the drowning people, as Reuters reported. Footage shows people being rescued from the water.

"It was difficult to get to the accident site because there are 30-meter-high cliffs and you can't get there on foot or by swimming. The divers helping with the rescue have zero visibility," explained Roatán's fire captain Franklin Borjas.

According to the fire department, only five of the plane's 17 occupants were rescued.

Among the dead is Aurelio Martinez, a famous musician from Honduras. One person is still missing .