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The tragic victims of a recent private plane crash in Florida have been identified as a CEO of a Christian ministry and his daughter. The accident occurred when their aircraft plunged into a small lake in Coral Springs.
Alexander Wurm, aged 53, was flying the plane alongside his 22-year-old daughter, Serena, when the unfortunate incident happened on Monday morning.
Disturbing video footage captured the plane’s dramatic descent into a pond, where it broke apart on impact.
According to Ignite the Fire, the evangelist ministry led by Wurm, the pair were en route to Jamaica to provide aid to those affected by Hurricane Melissa when the crash took place.
In a heartfelt statement, the ministry highlighted Wurm’s commitment to “empowering youth through missions and evangelism across the Caribbean,” a mission he passionately pursued.
‘Together, their final journey embodied selflessness and courage, reminding us of the power of service and love,’ the ministry said.
Officials said the pair had left Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and were en route to Montego Bay in Jamaica when they crashed.
Christian ministry CEO Alexander Wurm, 53, and his daughter, Serena, 22, have been identified as the victims of a deadly plane crash in Florida on Monday
Shocking footage captured the moment the plane smashed into a pond and shattered into debris
Footage showed the plane falling from the sky before it crash landed, and a witness said it appeared that Wurm was aiming for the lake where he and his daughter died.
‘I think that the pilot did know that he was not going to make a safe landing, and he made a choice to try and make it into that lake,’ the witness told ABC6.
Wurm had made several trips to the Caribbean to help Hurricane Melissa relief efforts before the tragedy on Monday, his ministry said.
‘Throughout his life, Alex travelled extensively, reaching various countries and continents, where he tirelessly worked to bring faith, compassion, and support to those in need,’ Ignite the Fire wrote in a Facebook post.
‘His legacy of faith and compassion touched countless lives.’
The group said Melissa was ‘following in her father’s footsteps’ as she joined him on his trips to the hurricane-ravaged area.
‘(Melissa) was a beacon of empathy and hope, inspiring all with her commitment to humanitarian work,’ the ministry said.
Footage showed the plane plummeting out of the sky
Fire and rescue crews seen working the scene after Wurm and his daughter crashed into a small pond in Coral Springs, Florida on Monday
Wurm had most recently completed an aid delivery to Jamaica on November 4, and he was praised on that trip by charity Crisis International in a social media post.
The charity shared video of volunteers at Montego Bay handling boxes of supplies delivered by the late minister.
‘Today we are picking up resources at the local airport — an amazing man named Alexander Wurm and his ministry Ignite the Fire has flown in from the Cayman Islands on a King Air with all sorts of supplies,’ the post read.
The charity said he brought ‘solar panels, a Starlink, tarps – all the things that are on our immediate needs list, so this is huge.’
Sean Malone, Crisis International founder, said in a video statement that he was shocked by Wurm’s sudden death, and said charities like his rely on small plane deliveries like those piloted by Wurm.
Malone said Wurm had been ‘absolutely amazing’ in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, but following the crash, ‘he didn’t turn up.’
‘Unfortunately we found out he crashed his aircraft in coral springs Florida, and he and his daughter did not survive. We are in absolute shock and disbelief of the situation and I’m asking for prayers for his friends and family at this time,’ Malone said.