Heavy Fire heard on Honduran island as Military aircraft circle

UTILA September 9, 2009

At 12:50am local time this reporter was woken by heavy gunfire coming from the direction of the secluded airport area on the small island of Utila located within The Bay Islands of Honduras.

 Approximately 50 rounds from weapons of various calibers woke local residents. Seconds later, a Military Aircraft began circling the island at very low altitude. Massive Spotlights shone straight down from under the wings of the plane, illuminating the roofs of homes, fields and forests as it passed over. This lone aircraft circled the island’s airport area for several minutes before flying off into the distance.

At this time, considering the mixed gunfire it is far too dangerous to investigate the situation at the airport, but once the sun rises and the situation is considered low risk, Utila East Wind will be on the scene to report the events that have occurred over night.

It is speculated that this is a drug interdiction operation due to the frequency of Narco planes landing on Utila over the last two years. If so, this is the first incident of this type to occur on Utila since May10th 2009 when a Venezuelan flagged aircraft crashed into the jungle carrying 1500 kilos of cocaine.  Two Venezuelan Narco planes have been captured this year on Utila with a total of 3200 kilograms of cocaine and two planes seized.

In Honduras as a whole, there have been 16 confirmed and captured Venezuelan Narco planes busted this year with close to 20000 kilos of cocaine being decommissioned.

In the first weeks after the removal of Manuel Zelaya there was a contingent of Honduran Military securing the airport on Utila to prevent the potential return of Zelaya via the remote island of Utila and these Narco night flights had ended. However, the troops have since left the island leaving the Municipal Airport again, an ideal location for clandestine operations.

The true nature of this incident is not yet known and updates will be posted as available.

It is now confirmed that the a plane with Venezuelan registration YV-724 has been detained at Utila Municipal Airport. There is no confirmation of any arrests nor what the plane's cargo was.

A Honduran military Helicoptor and Naval personal are on the scene securing the area.

UPTDATES WILL BE POSTED