A small turboprop aircraft involved in a hurricane relief operation to Jamaica crashed into a pond in a gated community in Coral Springs, a Fort Lauderdale suburb. The incident resulted in the death of two individuals shortly after departure, narrowly avoiding residences, as reported by authorities and a local resident.
The Coral Springs Police Department verified the fatalities in an announcement on Monday afternoon, but did not disclose additional information about the plane’s occupants. Emergency crews from the Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department quickly responded to the crash site following a distress call. Initially, no victims were found during the rescue operation, leading to a transition to a recovery mission.
Deputy Chief Mike Moser mentioned that no houses sustained damage, although debris was spotted near the pond. Aerial footage displayed a damaged fence in a backyard neighboring the pond where the aircraft went down. Moser noted that divers were deployed to search for victims but found none.
Kenneth DeTrolio recounted to the South Florida Sun Sentinel how the plane crashed through his backyard, destroying his fence, toppling palm trees, and eventually submerging in the water. The impact scattered debris across his yard, contaminating his pool and back porch with spilled fuel. The strong fuel odor lingered inside his residence for hours.
Broward County, the departure location of the plane and the crash site, is home to a vibrant Caribbean American community that swiftly mobilized to gather relief aid in response to Hurricane Melissa’s impact on Jamaica. Following the crash, local authorities will manage the recovery efforts, while federal aviation officials will conduct an investigation into the incident.
The Beechcraft King Air aircraft departed from the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport at around 10:14 a.m. local time and crashed shortly after takeoff. The plane, manufactured in 1976 according to FAA records, can accommodate between seven and twelve passengers. The registered owner, International Air Services, declined to provide details about the crash when contacted by a reporter.
Flight records revealed that the aircraft had made multiple trips between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica in the preceding week before landing in Fort Lauderdale. Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, struck Jamaica on October 28, causing significant damage in the region and prompting relief efforts.