Honduras Sells Presidential Jet Marked by Corruption to Mexican Firm for $5.1 Million

Honduras has sold its presidential jet, an Embraer Legacy 600, to a Mexican charter flight company for $5.1 million. The sale, finalized Friday, represents only 14% of the aircraft's purchase price and significantly less than the $37 million spent on its use, maintenance, and operation. The jet, acquired in 2021, became a symbol of corruption and extravagance under previous administrations. It was reportedly funded in part by donations from Taiwan intended for defense and health.

The buyer, Thebe Ingeniería y Consultoría, a firm offering luxury flights, was the sole bidder in the public auction. The sale is being presented by the current government of President Nasry Asfura as an austerity measure. However, the aircraft's history is deeply intertwined with former President Juan Orlando Hernández, who purchased the jet. Hernández, facing drug trafficking charges in the U.S., is set to return to Honduras on July 26 to confront unrelated corruption cases.

Concerns over the jet's misuse were highlighted in 2024 when the Directorate of National Assets reported that at least 10 private individuals used the Legacy for unofficial travel and unspecified cargo transport. The National Anti-Corruption Council (CNA) noted that the jet's operational costs were funded by a tax meant for fighting crime, further fueling public discontent. The sale aims to distance the current administration from the controversies surrounding the presidential aircraft.

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I am here to take care of Honduras