Father and Daughter Die in Florida Plane Crash While Delivering Hurricane Relief to Jamaica

CORAL SPRINGS, FLORIDA — A humanitarian flight from South Florida to Jamaica ended in tragedy Monday morning when a twin-engine Beechcraft crashed into a residential waterway shortly after takeoff, killing Alexander Wurm, 53, and his daughter Serena Wurm, 22.

The aircraft went down in a retention pond in a Coral Springs neighborhood, north of Miami, moments after departing Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. Security-camera footage captured the moment of impact, showing the plane breaking apart as it hit the water. No one on the ground was injured.

Final Act of Service

The Wurms were flying aid supplies bound for Jamaica, which had been devastated by Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm that struck the Caribbean in late October. Relief groups said the pair were transporting generators, Starlink satellite devices, and other emergency materials for communities isolated by the storm.

Alexander Wurm was the founder of Ignite the Fire, a Christian ministry that had been organizing relief flights to the region. His daughter Serena volunteered alongside him and shared his dedication to humanitarian work.

In a public statement, Ignite the Fire said their final flight reflected selflessness and courage, calling the pair “an inspiration to everyone who believes in service and compassion.”

Sean Malone, founder of the partner charity Crisis International, said smaller private planes like the Wurms’ had been crucial for getting supplies where commercial routes were blocked. “Alexander flew in aid at his own expense, again and again. He was tireless,” Malone said.

Recovery and Investigation

Police and fire-rescue teams initially searched for survivors, but the operation soon turned into a recovery effort.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the crash. Preliminary findings show weather conditions were clear at the time, and investigators are reviewing maintenance records and flight data from the Beechcraft King Air.

For more cases about private plane incidents, check out our video here: