A small Beechcraft King Air turboprop aircraft on a hurricane-relief mission to Jamaica crashed into a retention pond in a gated residential neighbourhood of Coral Springs, Florida, on Monday, shortly after taking off from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.

Two people on board were confirmed dead, authorities said.

The aircraft departed at about 10:14 a.m. and crash responders arrived within five minutes.

Emergency crews initially conducted a rescue search, then shifted to recovery later in the day after finding no survivors.

No injuries were reported on the ground and no homes were directly struck by the aircraft.

Debris from the crash was strewn across the pond and adjacent backyard fences.

One resident reported that the plane clipped trees and a fence before descending into the water.

Residents also described a strong fuel smell lingering in the area and noted that the crash narrowly missed several homes.

Federal records show the plane was manufactured in 1976 and was registered to a company specialising in aircraft registration for non-U.S. owners.

Tracking data indicated the aircraft had flown from Jamaica via the Cayman Islands in recent days.

The mission was part of post-Hurricane Melissa relief efforts in Jamaica, which saw widespread damage and displacement.

Local and federal investigators—including the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board—are now examining the cause of the accident.

A dive team inspected the pond, but officials said larger pieces of the aircraft were still submerged.

Authorities said a heavy police presence will remain on site while the investigation continues.