A pilot and his daughter have tragically died after their small plane which was carrying hurricane relief supplies to Jamaica crashed into a residential pond in Coral Springs, Florida, on Monday morning, authorities in the sunshine state said.
Alexander Wurm (49) and his daughter Serena Wurm, both residents of the Cayman islands and ardent humanitarian leaders loaded Their Beech B100 King Air aircraft, with critical supplies for hurricane-stricken Jamaica, which crashed moments after departing Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, marking the end of a mission defined by faith and service.
Wurm, a church pastor and founder of Ignite the Fire Cayman, was embarking on his third relief mission to Jamaica, with his daughter Serena when the aircraft went down. Earlier, the team departed Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman, with strong support from local churches, the Wurm Family Foundation, and civic groups. These groups helped gather and pack medical supplies, generators, solar panels, battery packs, tarps, and sophisticated communications equipment, including a Starlink system.
The aircraft first flew from Cayman to Montego Bay, distributing goods in collaboration with Youth With A Mission (YWAM Jamaica), Crisis Response International (CRI), and the Ministry of Health & Wellness. Pastor Wurm celebrated the mission’s impact on social media declaring: “Ignite is excited to fly generators, screws, tarps, battery packs, StarLink comm. systems and other desperately needed supplies to help rebuild Jamaica tomorrow!” Church leaders and community supporters in Grand Cayman contributed valuable cargo, restoring connectivity and hope to remote Jamaican communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa.
Jamaican authorities later clarified that the crashed plane, registered as N30HG, did not have an official permit to land on its scheduled return trip, despite prior aid missions. Transport Minister Daryl Vaz confirmed the plane made previous deliveries since Hurricane Melissa’s impact, but attempts to secure a landing permit for its third journey went unanswered.
Minister Vaz said: “The applicant would have done two trips to Jamaica from Caymans to Jamaica since Melissa. We await further information from the US authorities.” Jamaican aviation officials are actively investigating, with collaboration from U.S. authorities, regarding pilot, passenger, and cargo details.
Despite this legal hurdle and the heartbreaking crash, aid safely landed in Jamaica. Crisis Response International confirmed: “Supplies have landed in Montego Bay! Thanks to Ignite the Fire, who flew in from the Cayman Islands, and our partners at Sol Relief, we’re unloading solar panels, Starlink, generators, & tarps to reach remote areas with no power or communication.” These essentials were quickly dispatched to the western parish of St James and beyond, helping restore communication infrastructure and electricity in crisis-hit regions.
Cayman and Jamaican communities continue to mourn the untimely loss of Pastor Wurm and Serena, whose commitment bridged borders and faith communities. One Cayman resident, familiar with past missions, noted their profound shock at missing the tragic flight. The deliveries—especially the Starlink connectivity—enabled ongoing relief efforts and ministry work in some of the most severely affected, isolated Jamaican parishes.
Such sad news. He was doing something good for people. Imagine flying supplies out to Jamaica with your daughter on board a small aircraft. I cannot even begin to imagine what this is like. The Jamaican people needed the supplies especially after the hurricane which devastated their country. This gentleman was on a mission to help his fellow man. So sorry it ended the way it did for him. The world is full of good people. Where are the Jamaicans like Ian Wright, John Barnes, Linford Christie, Tippie Irie, The Marley family and all the other famous British Jamaicans? They have not done anything for their fellow countrymen/women. Shame on them, yes shame on them. Big Up Jamaica!
BTW: Thanks for the coverage AfroSaxonVoice! Good piece although sad story.