An Agape Flights Embraer 110 aircraft operated by the Florida-based mission has been confirmed missing after crashing in the mountains of Haiti, bringing a tragic end to an overnight search and rescue effort and sending shockwaves through the tight-knit aviation community.
Agape Flights CEO Allen Speer confirmed the news in a discouraging update on Friday, February 6, saying the organization had confirmed there were no survivors. The aircraft, an Embraer 110 Bandeirante with registration number N316AF, lost contact while on a mission on the afternoon of Thursday, February 5.
“None of us expected to be standing in front of you like this today,” Speer said in a message posted on Agape's YouTube and social media pages. “It is with a heavy heart that we want to share the latest news that has shaken the entire Agape Flights community.”
Speer said the plane fell off radar over Jeremy, Haiti, triggering an extensive search and rescue operation that lasted overnight and into Friday. The wreckage ended up in the mountains southeast of Jeremi, and while the cause of the crash remains unclear, the tragic outcome is now clear.
We don't believe there were any survivors. Our hearts are broken.
Alan Speer | CEO, Agape Flights
“What we know and what we share with you is profound sadness,” Speer said. “We do not believe there are any survivors. Our hearts are broken.”
The organization has not released further details about the flight, including the number of passengers on board.
Last flight schedule
Data from FlightAware provides a partial picture of the aircraft's final movement, but flight tracking in Haitian airspace can be inconsistent and should be interpreted carefully.
Embraer 110 started the day at Venice Municipal Airport (VNC) in Florida, the long-time home base for Agape flights. N316AF leave At 0734 local time, Venice flew to North Eleuthera Airport (ELH) in the Bahamas, a common refueling stop for missionary flights from Florida to Haiti. The aircraft arrived in Eleuthera at 0905 and took off again at 0936, this time to Cap-Haïtien International Airport (CAP) on Haiti's northern coast.
FlightAware data shows the next leg of the journey and lists an estimated time, rather than a confirmed radar track. The aircraft is shown to have taken off from Cap-Haïtien in 1318, with its last estimated position being near Jeremy in 1351. Subsequent flight tracks showed that the aircraft first appeared near Jeremy at 1433 local time, and lost contact four minutes later at 1437 over the mountains southeast of the city.
Jérémy is located on the southwest coast of the southern peninsula of Haiti, about 180 miles from Port-au-Prince. It was unclear whether the plane actually landed in Gérémy or was flying over the area when tracking stopped.
The aircraft was built in 1980 and was 46 years old at the time of the accident.
A workhorse aircraft with a long history
The Embraer 110 Bandeirante holds an important place in global aviation history and mission aviation. The aircraft first flew in 1968 and entered commercial service in the early 1970s, helping Embraer establish itself as a major global aircraft manufacturer. Between 1968 and 1990, a total of 501 aircraft were produced in various configurations, capable of carrying 15 to 21 passengers or large amounts of cargo.
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Although production ended over thirty years ago, the EMB 110 continues to fly into the modern era. As of 2018, approximately 150 aircraft are still in service with airlines, air taxi operators, governments and air forces around the world.
It is worth noting that the Embraer 110 is launch aircraft Irish budget airline Ryanair.
At Agape Flights, the Embraer 110 is configured specifically for cargo operations and can carry up to 3,000 pounds of supplies. Together with the Cessna F406, The aircraft forms the backbone of the organization's aviation ministry, delivering vital humanitarian aid, medical supplies, mail and daily necessities to missionary partners throughout the Caribbean.
Nearly 45 years of service and faith.
Agap Flights Keith and Clara Starkey founded the company in 1980 after missionary trips to Haiti, Spain, Guatemala and Africa. Looking for a way to expand their influence, they turned to aviation, purchasing a Cessna 411 aircraft and launching their first mission from Sarasota to Cap-Haitien later that year.
Operating out of a humble hangar at Venice Municipal Airport, Agape has grown into a vital logistical lifeline for approximately 300 missionaries and affiliate partners. The organization employs 13 paid staff and relies heavily on a team of about 150 volunteers, including pilots who donate their time and expertise.
While Agape Flights is nominally a shipping company, faith and service remain at the core of its identity. Mission partners pay a small annual fee and share shipping costs, while donors and corporate supporters often step in to defray the costs. In addition to daily deliveries, Agape has supported disaster relief efforts on multiple occasions, including emergency flights following the devastating 2021 earthquake in Haiti.
“We listen. We respond. God always delivers,” said Speer, who reiterated the organization's core beliefs even in the face of tragedy.
In his remarks, Speer asked for prayers for the family of the pilot who died in the crash and for the entire Agape community as they begin to grieve.
Please allow God to guide this situation and work in the way only He can.
Alan Speer | CEO, Agape Flights
“When we feel the burden is too much to bear, we pray for strength; when there are no words to say, we pray for comfort; and for God's peace to surround them every moment,” he said. “Please allow God to guide this situation and work in the way that only He can.”
Out of respect for those involved, Agape Flights said it will not be releasing any names or other details at this time.
