Agape Flights Embraer mission flight 110 lost in Haiti; No survivors

An Agape Flights Embraer 110 aircraft operated by the Florida-based mission organization was confirmed missing following a crash in mountainous terrain in Haiti, bringing a tragic end to a nighttime search and rescue effort and sending shockwaves through the aviation ministry’s tight-knit community.

Agape Flights CEO Allen Speer delivered the confirmation in a somber update on Friday, February 6, stating that the organization has confirmed there were no survivors. The aircraft, an Embraer 110 Bandeirante registered as N316AF, was operating a mission flight when contact was lost on Thursday afternoon, February 5.

“Today is a day that none of us imagined having to stand before you like this,” Speer said in a message posted on YouTube and Agape’s social media pages. “It is with a heavy heart that we want to share an update that has shaken our entire Agape Flights community.”

According to Speer, the plane went off radar over Jérémie, Haiti, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation that continued overnight and into Friday. The wreckage of the plane was eventually located in the mountainous terrain southeast of Jérémie and, although the cause of the crash is unknown, the outcome is now tragically clear.

“What we do know and what we share with you is deep pain,” Speer said. “We don’t believe there are any survivors. Our hearts are broken.”

The organization has not revealed additional details about the flight, including the number of passengers on board.

Final flight timeline

FlightAware data provides a partial picture of the plane’s final movements, although flight tracking in Haitian airspace can be inconsistent and should be interpreted with caution.

The Embraer 110 began its journey at Venice Municipal Airport (VNC) in Florida, the former base of Agape Flights. N316AF left Venice at 07:34 local time bound for North Eleuthera Airport (ELH) in the Bahamas, a common refueling stop for mission flights bound for Haiti from Florida. The plane arrived in Eleuthera at 09:05 and departed again at 09:36, this time bound for Cap-Haïtien International Airport (CAP) on the northern coast of Haiti.

FlightAware data shows the next leg of the journey listed with estimated times rather than confirmed radar tracking. The plane was shown departing Cap-Haïtien at 1:18 p.m., with a last estimated position near Jérémie at 1:51 p.m. A later track shows that the plane first appeared near Jérémie at 2:33 p.m. local time, with contact lost four minutes later at 2:37 p.m. over mountainous terrain southeast of the town.

Jérémie is located along the southwest coast of Haiti’s southern peninsula, approximately 180 miles from Port-au-Prince. It is not clear whether the plane actually landed in Jérémie or was transiting the area when tracking ceased.

The plane was built in 1980 and was 46 years old at the time of the accident.

A battleplane with a long legacy

The Embraer 110 Bandeirante occupies an important place in aviation history, both globally and within mission aviation. The model, which first flew in 1968, entered commercial service in the early 1970s and helped propel Embraer into the ranks of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers. Between 1968 and 1990, 501 examples were built in numerous configurations, capable of transporting between 15 and 21 passengers or important loads.

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Although production ended more than three decades ago, the EMB 110 continued to fly well into the modern era. As recently as 2018, approximately 150 examples remained in service worldwide with airlines, air taxi operators, governments and air forces.

It should be noted that the Embraer 110 was the launch planes for the Irish low-cost airline Ryanair.

At Agape Flights, the Embraer 110 was configured for cargo operations and could carry up to 3,000 pounds of supplies. Next to a Cessna F406, The aircraft formed the backbone of the organization’s aviation ministry, delivering critical humanitarian aid, medical supplies, mail and essential items to mission partners throughout the Caribbean.

Almost 45 years of service and faith

Agape Flights was founded in 1980 by Keith and Clara Starkey after mission trips to Haiti, Spain, Guatemala and Africa. Looking for a way to expand their impact, they turned to aviation, purchasing a Cessna 411 and launching their first mission flight from Sarasota to Cap-Haïtien that same year.

Agape, operating out of a modest hangar at the Venice Municipal Airport, has become a vital logistical lifeline for approximately 300 missionaries and affiliate partners. The organization employs 13 paid staff and relies heavily on a volunteer force of approximately 150 people, including pilots who donate their time and expertise.

While Agape Flights operates as a paper shipping operation, faith and service remain central to its identity. Mission partners pay a modest annual fee and share shipping costs, while donors and supporting businesses often step in to cover expenses. In addition to routine deliveries, Agape has repeatedly supported disaster relief efforts, including emergency flights following the devastating 2021 Haiti earthquake.

“We listen. We respond. God always delivers,” Speer said, reaffirming the organization’s core beliefs even in the face of tragedy.

In his message, Speer asked for prayers for the families of the pilots lost in the accident and for the entire Agape community that is beginning to mourn.

“We ask for prayer for strength when the weight feels unbearable, for comfort when there are no words and for the peace of God to surround you at every moment,” he said. “Please allow God to guide this situation and work the way only He can.”

Out of respect for those involved, Agape Flights has stated that no additional names or details will be released at this time.